District 4 Newsletter
April 2022

Welcome Baby Program Helps Mothers and Babies

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the challenges for Yolo County's most vulnerable families, creating a crisis with delayed prenatal care, high-risk pregnancies and low birth weight. Sadly, the number of mothers suffering from clinical depression increased by 2/3 during the pandemic.

When the Yolo County Board of Supervisors requested proposals to allocate American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to address the pandemic, one proposal – First 5 Yolo's Welcome Baby – met and exceeded the goals for ARP funds. The Board voted to fund the program.

Families enrolled receive up to three "Welcome Baby" home visits, one by a registered nurse within the first weeks of returning home from the hospital and up to two visits by community healthcare workers. Families in greatest need are then offered enrollment in more intensive home visiting and receive referrals to additional community resources, as appropriate.

Welcome Baby reaches families at the earliest point to strategically coordinate flow into available services and support for medical, mental health, and other essential care that may have lapsed during the pandemic. The program will contribute to the lifelong health of both mothers and babies.
COVID-19 Update
Caution still needed
 
Yolo County has done a great job working together to address the COVID pandemic. All our hard work has paid off. Yolo County is currently experiencing a low level of infection.

We need to keep up the good work! The COVID vaccination is the best way to keep our Coronavirus numbers down. Currently, initial COVID vaccines are available for anyone 5 years and over and boosters are needed to keep your immunity level strong.

Currently one booster is recommended for all those 12 years and older. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recently updated its recommendations to allow immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 to receive a second booster at least 4 months after their first booster shot. Yolo County Health Officer Aimee Sisson especially recommends that persons age 65 years or older get a 2nd COVID booster shot. These vaccines and boosters can be received through your health provider, pharmacies, or provided to you in your home by contacting Yolo Public Health at 530-902-3230 (English) or 530-220-6481 (Spanish).

Masking is still recommended, especially while indoors and particularly if you do not know if everyone present is fully vaccinated. Although others may not wear a mask, if you are wearing a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask, you are 83% less likely to be infected with COVID.

Finally, new and effective treatments are now available. Paxlovid is an anti-viral medication available by prescription. It is currently recommended for high‐risk, non‐hospitalized patients, with mild‐to‐moderate COVID symptoms; this includes anyone over age 65 years. According to the FDA, Paxlovid reduces serious COVID cases by 88%. For Paxlovid to be effective you must start taking the prescription within 5 days of COVID symptoms starting. Be sure to see a healthcare provider to confirm the diagnosis of COVID and discuss if this medication is appropriate for you.