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Health
Fewer Johnson & Johnson Vaccines Coming to Maryland
William J. Ford WI Staff Writer
Marylanders will see a 250,000 decrease in doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine that could slow down vaccination efforts over the next two weeks.
The decrease includes 78,000 fewer doses from what the state expects to receive this week from the federal government.
In total, the state could receive a 33 percent reduction this week not only from Johnson & Johnson, which requires one dose but also from Pfizer and Moderna that requires two doses.
“We’ve built this incredible infrastructure that can handle way more vaccines, but the last thing we wanted to hear about was we’re getting less vaccines,” Gov. Larry Hogan said during a news conference Friday, April 9 in Annapolis. “We were hoping they would continue to ramp up as they have been promising. It’s going to be a little slower in April. Hopefully we can catch up in May.”
With limited information from federal officials, Hogan said the shortages may be linked to a disaster at Emergency BioSolutions manufacturing plant in Baltimore that produced vaccines for Johnson & Johnson, potentially ruining up to 15 million doses.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hadn’t approved the plant to produce and distribute vaccines. Still, state officials anticipate possible approval to supply millions of other doses sitting in the plant.
Hogan said “whatever the screwup was” appears to not involve those doses.
“If the FDA issues an [emergency use authorization] for that facility, then they potentially have millions of doses to ship out immediately,” he said.
A possible fourth vaccine could come from Novavax of Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, he said, and “is very close” to undergoing the third phase clinical trial as soon as next month.
The limited numbers in vaccines are unfortunately happening with a more contagious variant circulating throughout Maryland and nationwide.
According to the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/map), the hot spots last week, based on confirmed cases per 100,000 people, are in Baltimore and Harford counties that border Pennsylvania. That state and most of the Northeast part of the country are designated hot spots.
After Maryland reached a milestone in administering 82,000 shots Thursday, April 8, the state Health Department reported a new daily record of 94,773 on Friday.
The goal for state officials is to deliver 100,000 shots per day.
About 3.5 million Marylanders have received the vaccine, which equates to about 21 percent of the population.
According to an automated message last week, Prince George’s County Health Officer Ernest Carter said 217,000 residents have been vaccinated.
Prince George’s continues to lead the state’s counties with over 80,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and over 1.400 deaths.
“We can’t let our guard down yet,” he said. “COVID-19 is still spreading in Prince George’s County and is making a lot of people sick.”
Residents who still haven’t pre-registered can do so at https://covid19vaccination. princegeorgescountymd.gov, or call the county’s 311 hotline.
To register at one of the mass vaccination sites that include Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro and Greenbelt Metro station, go to https://coronavirus.maryland. gov/pages/vaccine, or call 1-855634-6892.
WI @jabariwill
5 A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine on April 7 at a vaccination clinic at the Greenbelt Metro station operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (Photo courtesy of FEMA)
500,000 Enroll in Health Insurance During Special Period
Gains Registered Among African American, Traditionally Unsigned Groups
Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says more than 500,000 Americans have enrolled in health insurance through HealthCare.gov as a result of the Biden Administration’s Special Enrollment Period [SEP] for the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The department added that this has been the largest increase in enrollment among Black consumers and among Americans near the poverty level in two years.
“Access to quality, affordable health care is essential – especially as we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
“Since the beginning of this Special Enrollment Period’s availability on HealthCare.gov, more than 500,000 Americans have already signed up for coverage on HealthCare.gov. Now, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, health care coverage is more affordable and millions of Americans are seeing their premiums reduced.”
“At HHS, we are going to build on the Affordable Care Act [ACA] and work tirelessly to ensure Americans have the chance to sign up for quality, affordable health care coverage that meets their needs.”
A report issued on Wednesday, April 7 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS], which covers plan selections from Feb. 15 to March 31, shows gains in enrollment among historically uninsured communities.
Of applicants who identified a race, 17 percent identified as Black – compared to about 11 percent in both 2020 and 2019 during the same period.
Among consumers requesting financial assistance, 41 percent report being at or slightly above the federal poverty level, compared to 38 percent in 2020 and 33 percent in 2019.
The HHS says nearly 15 million Americans who currently lack health insurance, and many current enrollees, are eligible to receive additional financial support in obtaining Marketplace coverage as part of the American Rescue Plan [ARP].
As of April, premiums are expected to decrease by an average of $50-per-person, per month – and $85-per-policy, per month due to the financial assistance available under the ARP.
An average of four out of five consumers currently enrolled in Marketplace coverage can now find a plan for $10 or less per month after financial assistance says the HHS.
The 2021 SEP is available to consumers in the 36 states with Marketplaces that use the HealthCare.gov platform through Aug. 15, 2021.
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(Photo courtesy of Pexels.)
Bluerock Care Responds to Health Needs
in Wards 7, 8 Equity Report for the District of Co- Anacostia Coordinating Council, said lumbia 2018 reported the life expec- his organization has been working with By James Wright tancy of a Ward 3 resident comes out Bluerock since the fall of 2020. He said WI Staff Writer to 87.6 years in contrasts to a Ward 8 Bluerock has worked with ACC on dweller who lives 72.8 years. Berg said coronavirus testing, administering flu
A new medical firm has opened setting up east of the river will give his shots and supplying PPEs. Mitchell, a in the District to meet the medical firm the chance to improve the health patient of Bluerock, said the firm has needs of seniors who primarily reside outcomes of African American seniors the chance to make a difference where east of the Anacostia River in the Dis- who tend to suffer higher rates of di- it is needed. trict and in central Prince George’s abetes and hypertension than whites “They have a proactive approach County. and often have to travel farther to go to medicine,” Mitchell said. “This is
Bluerock Care, starting operations visit a physician due to the lack of a a good thing for many people in this in March, functions as a for profit strong transportation network com- area where often the emergency room company located on the second floor pared to the city’s neighborhoods west becomes the first appointment they of The Shops at Penn Branch off of of the river. have had.” Pennsylvania Avenue., S.E. Dr. Marc Berg said Bluerock patients won’t WI 5 Ward 7 resident Lamont Mitchell is the first patient to receive care at the newly- Berg, the CEO and founder of Blu- have to come to their offices to be @JamesDCWrighter opened Bluerock Care facility in Southeast. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer) erock, stated why setting up in a neigh- served. borhood east of the Anacostia River “We will come to you,” he said. “We was intentional. “Seniors who live in this area are a offer telehealth which is talking with our patients by teleconference while EDUCARE OF WASHINGTON DC market that is untapped,” Berg said. they are at home. Also, we offer home REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS “We saw an opportunity because no visits to patients so they can be served one is rushing to provide medical ser- and not have to come to our waiting School Food Service vices over here. But there is a need here. room. When you make an appointMany times, people who live here have ment to come to our office, we will Educare of Washington DC (Educare DC) is seeking a food service management company to furnish and deliver to go to places like the George Wash- honor it.” 728 meals/day (in bulk – unless otherwise requested) to Two (2) location participating in the Child Adult Care Food Proington University for medical services Dr. Alka Gupta, co-founder and gram (CACFP), established by the United States Department of Agriculture Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR 226), which but that is difficult because some se- chief medical officer of Bluerock, said set forth the terms and conditions applicable to the proposed procurement. niors have to get on three buses to get her firm uses technology to treat pathere and other hospitals in other parts tients so they won’t have to leave their The complete RFP packet can be obtained by visiting our school website – www.educaredc.org.of town.” homes. Proposals are due no later than 5:00PM, Thursday April 15, 2021.
Berg said most of his patients are “Working with a patient, we can get in the Medicare program, the federal their blood pressure, glucose and sugar Questions and proposals may be emailed to: comprehensive health care program for readings through the technology we Barbara Ledyard people 65 years-old and older. give them,” she said. “When the pa- Vice President-Finance and Administration
Bluerock has emerged at a time tients perform the tests, the informa- bledyard@educaredc.org when Wards 7 and 8 have only tion comes to our system and we can one full-service hospital, the Unit- analyze it and advise them on what’s Requested Services ed Medical Center, a population of next.” Educare DC is seeking competitive proposals to provide meals (breakfast, lunch, PM snack and dinner) in support of our about 150,000 people. The Health Lamont Mitchell, chairman of the school food service program. The successful proposing company shall deliver in accordance with the menu requirements for the Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Educare DC is based in a state-of-the-art facility in the Parkside-Kenilworth neighborhood of Ward 7. The school serves 160 low-income children (ages 6 weeks to 5 years) and their families with a high quality, research-based early childhood program. Educare Idea is based in a state-of-the-art facility in the Deanwood area of Ward 7. The school serves 80 low-income children (ages 6 weeks to 3 years) and their families with a high quality, research-based early childhood program.
Assumptions and Agreements
Proposals will not be returned. Educare DC reserves the right to dismiss a proposal without providing a reason. Educare DC reserves the right to terminate a contract with written notice.
Lung Association Tackles Asthma in Communities of Color
ALA Wants to Reduce Asthma-related Hospital Visits
Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer
In the U.S., 24.8 million people are living with asthma, including 5.5 million children. While asthma affects all people, groups like children and low-income individuals are most likely to have asthma and suffer from severe asthma attacks, hospitalization and even death says the American Lung Association.
Asthma morbidity and mortality also disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic individuals.
To improve health and prevent asthma-related emergency hospital visits, the ALA is expanding its asthma intervention work with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC].
The lung association received a five-year, $1 million cooperative agreement from the CDC last week where they will support the health agency’s objective of preventing 500,000 emergency department and hospital visits by Aug. 31, 2024.
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Submission Information
Proposals must include all requested information indicated in the official RFP. Please send final proposals to bledyard@ educaredc.org.
Basis for Award of Contract
Educare DC reserves the right to award a contract as it determines to be in the best interest of the school. Locally Owned, Minority-Owned, Female-Owned and Small Businesses are encouraged to apply.
