Essex County Health Department Home

Use the chart below to help lessen your exposure and protect your health.

Visit AirNow.gov for your local air quality forecast. Or visit Today's Air Quality Index (AQI) Forecast for New York State (ny.gov)  

DEC Air Quality  

EPA Airnow  

CDC wildfire smoke page  

DEC Encourages New Yorkers to "Know it, Avoid it, Report it"

As the 2023 Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) notification season starts. DEC's New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) is now active and allows the public and trained citizens to send reports of HABs to DEC electronically via a simple, user- and mobile phone-friendly form. The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) reminded New Yorkers to learn about and be aware of harmful algal blooms, or "HABs,"

Report Blue Green Algal Bloom Sighting

"As summer begins, we encourage New Yorkers to be on the lookout for HABs, which can impact New York's lakes and waterways and pose a potential public health risk," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "Working closely with DOH and local partners in communities statewide, DEC continues to make significant investments to prevent excess nutrients and other contaminants from contributing to these potentially toxic blooms and is actively working to help New Yorkers understand how to identify and report HABs, as well as keep themselves, their families, and pets out of harm's way."

"Harmful algal blooms contain toxins that pose health risks to people and animals, so we want to encourage New Yorkers to be on the lookout this summer as they spend time in the water," said Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. "The New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) is an easy tool that allows the public to both protect themselves by becoming aware of trouble areas as well as to report blooms in an effort to help protect others."

⬇ A beach closure alert was issued July 5, 2023 for the below beaches.

Beaches opened on 7/7/23

A beach closure alert was issued July 6, 2023 for the below beach.

Beach opened 7/13/23

8/7/23Ballard Park Beach in the town of Westport is closed due to possible contamination from overflow from municipal wastewater system.

8/17/23 Bulwagga Bay Beach in the town of Moriah is closed due to possible contamination. 

What is Mpox?

Mpox is a rare disease caused by infection with the mpox virus. Mpox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and mpox is rarely fatal. Mpox is not related to chickenpox. JYNNEOS is a 2-dose vaccine developed to protect against mpox and smallpox infections. People need to get both doses of the vaccine for the best protection against mpox.

Mpox Vaccination Basics

April 20, 2023

FDA Authorizes Changes to Simplify Use of Bivalent:

Bivalent Changes

This action includes authorizing the current bivalent vaccines (original and omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains) to be used for all doses administered to individuals 6 months of age and older, including for an additional dose or doses for certain populations.
The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.

Updated Vaccine Recommendations: Previously vaccinated individuals:

Who have not yet received a dose of a bivalent vaccine may receive a single dose of a bivalent vaccine. Children 6 months-5 years of age who have received previous doses of a monovalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive a bivalent vaccine, but the number of doses that they receive will depend on the vaccine and their vaccination history.
Who have already received a single dose of the bivalent vaccine are not currently eligible for another dose, UNLESS THEY ARE 65 years +, at least 4 months following their initial bivalent dose. Individuals with certain kinds of immunocompromising conditions, at least 2 months following their previous bivalent dose. For immunocompromised individuals 6 months through 5 years of age who have received two doses (Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent), a single additional dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent may be administered at least 1 month following the most recent dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent; additional doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent may be administered at the discretion of the healthcare provider, taking into consideration the individual’s clinical circumstances.

Unvaccinated individuals: Most unvaccinated individuals may receive a single dose of a bivalent vaccine, rather than multiple doses of the original monovalent mRNA vaccines.

EXCEPT FOR Children 6 months-5 years should receive a two-dose series of the Moderna bivalent vaccine (6 months through 5 years of age) OR a three-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine (6 months through 4 years of age).
Children 6 months-5 years who have partially completed a primary series, should complete the series with bivalent vaccine.
Children who are 5 years of age may receive two doses of the Moderna bivalent vaccine or a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
The FDA summaries of updates and links to the updated fact sheets are available here:
Pfizer: 
Moderna: 

December, 2022:

Pfizer & Moderna have BIVALENT COVID-19 booster available now.

The approved boosters are considered bivalent vaccines. That means they contain the mRNA sequence for the spike protein of two strains of SARS-CoV-2: the original strain and one common to the current predominant subvariants of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5. Be sure to visit our COVID-19 Vax Page for additional bivalent clinics.

December 9, 2022:

CDC expanded the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months through 5 years. Children ages 6 months through 5 years who previously completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster 2 months after their final primary series dose. Children ages 6 months through 4 years who are currently completing a Pfizer primary series will receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose.

October 21, 2022: 

The Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster emergency use authorization that includes people 12 years and older has been expanded to include children ages 5-11 years.

The Moderna bivalent booster authorization for those 18 and older has been expanded to include children and adolescents ages 6-17 years.

October 12, 2022:

FDA Authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines for Use as a Booster Dose in Younger Age Groups.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent to authorize their use as a single booster dose in younger age groups. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is authorized for administration at least two months following completion of primary or booster vaccination in children down to six years of age. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is authorized for administration at least two months following completion of primary or booster vaccination in children down to five years of age.

The Office of Cannabis Management’s adult-use cannabis program improves access to safer, tested products for consumers while supporting the foundation of an equitable cannabis industry. The key to learning how cannabis might affect you is understanding different potencies, terpene combinations, and product forms.  Explore the consumer resources available below to learn how cannabis may affect you and tips on safer and responsible cannabis consumption. 

All consumer resources are intended for individuals 21 and over. 

How can a cannabis purchaser tell if they are buying regulated products from a licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary?

To make sure you are purchasing cannabis from a licensed dispensary, here are the steps to take:  

1. After locating a dispensary, look for the Dispensary Verification Tool, which is pictured below.

All licensed dispensaries are issued a Dispensary Verification Tool which is posted in the storefront. Scan the QR code to be directed to OCM's website with a list of all licensed adult-use cannabis dispensaries.

Find a Dispensary 

🔊Hay there #getfitessexcounty! You Autumn know the challenge for September is STEPtember! This challenge is for all the corn maze crushers, apple picking, cider drinking, leaf peeping, sweater weather loving folks of Essex County! The goal is 6,000 steps per day, 6 days a week for a total of 144,000 steps taken in September!!! Why 6,000 steps? The average American walks 3,000-4,000 steps a day, we thought 6,000 steps is a reachable goal. How to include more steps in your day? Include the family. Instead of an afternoon movie, go for a walk or hike together. Go in person. Instead of sending a work email, or a text walk to the person. Take the dog for a walk (if you have one) Try music. A bouncy tune or something with a strong beat can make activity more enjoyable and help motivate you to walk farther or faster. Schedule workday walks. Put reminders in your calendar for short walking breaks to ramp up your energy throughout the day. Have a one-on-one meeting? Plan to walk and talk. Park farther away. Choose parking spots farther away from the entrance. If you take the bus, get off a stop early and walk the rest of the way. For more information on the benefits of getting more steps https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/.../cardiovascular....

 

 

Get Healthy North Country (gethealthynoco.org) Sign up for online workshops to manage chronic pain.

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DYK about our Chronic Disease Self Managment Opportunities & Resources? - Go to the Chronic Disease Page to Learn More!