On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.529 as a Variant of Concern and has named it Omicron. This variant was first reported to the WHO by South Africa, but that does not necessarily mean that is where the Omicron variant originated. The first case in the U.S. was confirmed in California and all close contacts have been contacted and have tested negative, as noted in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) media statement on December 1, 2021.

It is important to continue following all rules and regulations put in place by your city, state, county, or Tribal health department. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. To learn more about the Omicron variant from the WHO, read more here and from the CDC, read more here.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released data showing that poor indoor air quality led to 2.3 million deaths worldwide in 2019.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, American Indians & Alaska Natives disproportionately suffer from poor indoor air quality, which leads to an increase in asthma and other breathing conditions. Secondhand smoke from tobacco or wood smoke, and mold can all contribute to poor air quality.

The data is likely to show an increase in indoor air quality-related deaths in 2020 due to more people spending more time indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

With the holidays quickly approaching, families are getting ready to celebrate and enjoy holiday traditions. As you plan to gather with family, friends, and others in your Tribal community, it is important to gather as safely as possible whether it be a  small gathering, such as ritual or ceremony, or larger like a community potluck. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided some useful information that everyone can use to make gatherings and travel safer during this time of the year. As the Delta variant continues to circulate in the U.S., and around the world, it is recommended that people continue to take precautions such as washing their hands and wearing masks as well as getting their COVID-19 vaccine.

National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering technical assistance to support Tribal violence prevention efforts. Topics include but are not limited to NIHB’s ACEs resource basket materials and tools for Tribes, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and general grants and program management.

For questions and more information, contact Nina Martin at [email protected], or 202-548-7299.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Predoctoral Training in General, Pediatric, Dental Public Health Dentistry, and Dental Hygiene. The purpose of this program is to enhance predoctoral dental, dental hygiene, and other oral health care trainee’s clinical ability to care for populations and individuals with medically complex health conditions, special and/or behavioral health care needs, and focus on patient-centered care so students gain a better understanding of the social determinants of health, in order to improve the oral health of vulnerable, underserved, and rural populations.

Tribes and Tribal organizations are among the entities eligible to apply provided they can carry out grants to plan, develop, and operate an approved professional training program in the field of general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, public health dentistry for dental hygiene students, or dental hygienists, or other approved primary care dental trainees, such as dental therapists, as defined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Entities may be accredited, or in the process of receiving accreditation, or who propose to develop an accredited program, however, the applicant or partner organization(s) must be accredited by the Secretary of Education or by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) by July 1, 2023.

Read more here. 

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is seeking qualified candidates for: Entry to senior executive level positions available in operations, administration, communications, public health, Congressional relations, and policy and federal relations. Full-time, salaried positions in Washington, DC. Job descriptions available here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has produced a set of three infographics from the 2019 Public Health in Indian Country Capacity Scan report (PHICCS I). Each graphic highlights important findings from PHICCS I around Tribal health organization characteristics, Tribal public health needs and priorities, and key Tribal public health activities. Collectively they demonstrate the central role Tribal health organizations play in providing essential public health services.

To view the infographics, visit the NIHB PHICCS website.

As Tribal healthcare workers, Tribal health systems administrators, and Infection Preventionists (IP) monitor the emergence of new Variants of Concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2, such as Omicron, it is important to continue to monitor all variants. National Indian Health Board’s (NIHB) Project Firstline (PFL) partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a new video with information on the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. Watch the video HERE to learn more about how virus variants develop. PFL also has several resources for Tribal healthcare workers to learn more about the Delta variant and what it means for infection control in Tribal healthcare. The resources HERE include information about source control in healthcare, how variants spread, and recommendations for infection control. Tribal healthcare workers interested in receiving email updates when a variant classification or definition changes can sign up with the CDC Variant Classification and Definitions webpage. Updates about the new variants will be provided as information becomes available.

On November 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that as part of the new phase of COVID-19 vaccination campaign has begun for children ages 5 to 11 years old, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has released a Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation. This PDF helps Americans to navigate the serious threat of health misinformation, especially online. Read more here.

The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) Tribal Epidemiology Center sponsored two new toolkits to assist Tribal response planning. The After Action Review (AAR) toolkit serves as a planning tool outlining the After Action Review process, complete with extra tools that can be found in the appendices. The After Action Review (AAR) Toolkit – Behavioral Health Edition also serves as a planning tool. The Behavioral Health Edition features best practices, programmatic/funding resources, and improvement planning concepts for behavioral health areas such as adverse childhood experiences, suicide prevention, and intimate partner violence.

View the toolkits here.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB)is committed to serving Tribal Nations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. We welcome your requests and feedback.

Contact Courtney Wheeler, MPH

Program Manager, Public Health Policy and Programs at [email protected] or 202-507-4081.

Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus Self Checker

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a great tool to help you make decisions on when to seek testing and medical care. Tribal members who are 13 and older, and parents and caregivers of children ages 2 to 12 can use the tool to help decide when to seek testing or medical care if they suspect they or someone they know has contracted COVID-19 or has come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Tribal members can use the on-line tool to find recommended actions and resources based on their response to questions in the Self-checker tool. 

Today! Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 1:00 PM ET

The Bipartisan Policy Center, national public health associations, and philanthropic foundations will host a live webinar as they release a report from the bipartisan Public Health Forward Task Force establishing a 5-year vision for governmental public health in the U.S. and an actionable framework for state and local elected and public health officials to enhance public health infrastructure. The information shared may provide insight and reflection over areas of priority for Tribal public health infrastructure advancement. Register to attend here.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announced that the Clinical Investigator Training Course (CITC), previously conducted in-person (pre-pandemic) will be an abbreviated, virtual update rather than a full course. The agency is hopeful that the full course will resume in 2022. Tribal healthcare workers, consultants, drug, device, and biologic industry employees, regulatory affairs professionals, and biomedical professionals are recommended to attend and may benefit the most from the update.

Register for the training here.

December 15, 2021, at 2:00 PM ET

During this webinar, a certified holistic health coach will discuss the use of traditional foods to prevent illness in Native American communities. Participants will hear about the connection between gut health and chronic disease and feel empowered to incorporate traditional foods into their long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs. If you have questions for the presenters, submit them via email to [email protected]. Register for the webinar here.