Public Health

The Washington State Department of Health is now offering clinics the chance to obtain smaller orders of COVID-19 vaccines. DOH hopes this system, based on a series of vaccine ‘depots’ around the state, will allow more clinics to offer vaccinations and lessen the time the vaccines are in transit, minimizing waste. Twenty counties have vaccine…

Beginning Dec. 21, Umair Shah, MD, MPH, will be Washington’s new secretary of health, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Nov. 17. He replaces John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH, who will join the faculty at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Shah currently serves as executive director and local health authority for Harris County,…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kelley Charvet, Chief Administrative Officer, CHAS Health Phone: 509.444.8888 Email: communications@chas.org CHAS Health Updates COVID Testing Protocol  Spokane, WA. October 29, 2020 – CHAS Health remains committed to serving our community by providing the majority of COVID testing access in our area.  Due to increased volumes and fixed capacity, CHAS Health’s…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on vaccines – from a decline in childhood immunization rates for preventable diseases like the measles; to potential diagnostic uncertainties between COVID and influenza, underscoring the importance of getting a flu shot this year; to the urgent race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are considered one…

The Washington Academy of Family Physicians is alarmed by recent actions of the administrative leadership of the Spokane Regional Health District to move to terminate the employment of Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz. Removing a long-standing and capable health officer amid an ongoing pandemic risks hastening the already devastating effects of COVID-19. As…

We’ve added a new page that will be updated regularly with the most current information about the COVID-19 pandemic that’s relevant for family physicians. You can view the COVID-19 page here.