Latest news with #KCHD
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Three federal grants terminated for Tennessee Department of Health, 7 Knox County Health workers laid off
KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WATE) — The Tennessee Department of Health sent a notice to every county health department statewide that three federal grants had been terminated, and that their services were no longer required. The following grants were terminated: ELC-EDx, or Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) – Building and Strengthening Epidemiology, Laboratory and Health Information Systems Capacity; CDC-RFA-IP19-1901 Immunization and Vaccines for Children Tennessee COVID-19 Health Disparities Initiative New trash containment system coming to downtown Knoxville 'Due to this decision by the federal government, the funding source for your services has been eliminated, which unfortunately means that the Department no longer requires your services at this time,' TDOH wrote in their announcement to the Knox County Health Department. 'Please, immediately stop all activities related to these grants.' KCHD explaiend that the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grant 'helped fund multiple positions and supported vaccine administration; the public information telephone line; and various outreach and educational opportunities over the past several years.' With the loss of funding, six full-time workers and one part-time worker were let go. 'KCHD is making some adjustments to operations, but it's important to understand that all critical health department services will continue and be available to our community without disruption,' wrote the department in a release. 'Although it was understood the grant would eventually come to an end, the notification to halt these activities immediately was sudden.' According to the Centers for Disease Control, ELC funding is flexible funding awarded by the CDC. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Tracking Accountability in Government Grant System, or TAGGS, says the funding is meant to protect public health and safety by 'enhancing the capacity of public health agencies to effectively detect, respond, prevent and control known and emerging (or re-emerging) infectious diseases' The In 2024, Tennessee, received more than $9 million in core ELC funding, the CDC said. The second grant terminated is connected to the Vaccines for Children Program through the CDC, which began following the measles epidemic between 1989 and 1991. According to the CDC, an investigation discovered that the cost of the measles vaccine was the primary reason for children who were unvaccinated, even in families with a regular healthcare provider. What impact will new tariffs on imported cars, parts have on Tennessee? In response to the epidemic, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliate Act in 1993, which created the VCF, the CDC said. Since then, the program has provided vaccines at no cost to children who are eligible for the program through VFC Program enrolled public and private health care partners. Lastly, The HHS's TAGGS dashboard states that the COVID-19 related grant was intended to help provide information on the best practices to reduce COVID-19 transmission across Tennessee to populations that were at a higher risk of contracting the virus or who were medically underserved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anderson County hoping multiday closure will reduce high rate of illness in schools
ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Due to hazardous road conditions from flooding and a surge in absenteeism caused by illness, schools in Anderson County are closed Thursday and Friday. Like a number of school districts in East Tennessee, Anderson County has recently seen an increase in illness among both students and staff. KCHD: Flu on the rise again, especially among younger people 'Wednesday, we had 32 teachers out. Whenever we don't have our teachers in our classrooms, we lose instruction time. We started looking at substitute numbers. Sometimes we may not be able to fill a class at certain schools because there may not be enough substitutes,' explained Anderson County Schools Spokesperson Ryan Sutton. 'We decided it's best to air on the side of caution. We've got these non-instructional days left. We'll go ahead and cancel school for sickness as well as the safety of our students on our buses.' It's not just one single illness— flu, COVID-19, strep throat and a stomach virus are all spreading. For Anderson County Schools, ensuring safety and health is a top priority. 'It's very important that we take care of our faculty, staff and students to the best of our abilities. We do have ionization systems in every one of our classrooms in the air conditioning where every 30 minutes we do have fresh air that circulates it into the room, which was something that we put in prior to COVID-19, which has been very helpful,' Sutton said. 'But still people are in other people's faces, that may be the contact or hugs. So we want to make sure that we keep that contact as low as possible.' Doctors urge people to get vaccinated after surge in TN flu cases In response, the county is utilizing one of their non-instructional days, out of ten built into the academic calendar each year to help prevent the spread of illness while ensuring that the students who get sick don't lose valuable instruction time. Sutton noted the school system has learned important lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to better handle situations like this one. 'We do have some ionization sprayers that spray the disinfectant on the areas and they stick to the surfaces, which will kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on that surface. Of course, time is our best tool in that our students won't be back in the building until Tuesday after Presidents Day. So our classrooms, I would say for lack of better terms, get a moment to breathe.' ▶ See more top stories on Students will be return on Tuesday following Presidents Day and will make up non-instructional days by adding time on to normal school days to make them up throughout the year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
