WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 09/08/2023 WICHITA FALLS-WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD MINUTES
e acau"alto September 8, 2023
o Wichita Falls Wichita County Public Health District V31700 Third Street—Clements Conference Room-
Wichita Falls, Texas
Public Health
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BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Keith Williamson, M.D., Chair Physician—City Appointment
Paris Ward, M.A., B.S. Citizen At-Large—City Appointment
Melissa Plowman Restaurant Association--City Appointment
Nichole Jefferson, RN Registered Nurse—City Appointment
BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED ABSENCE:
Jered Harlan, D.V.M. Veterinarian —City Appointment
Tanya Egloff, D.D.S. Dentist—County Appointment
Raymond Forsythe •Citizen At-Large—County Appointment
OTHERS PRESENT:
Amy K. Fagan, M.P.A. Director of Health
Brandi Smith, B.S., RN Assistant Director of Health
Michael Smith City Liaison
I. CALL TO ORDER
Dr. Williamson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:10 pm after a quorum of members attained.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ABSENCES
Dr. Williamson called for the review and approval of the July 14,2023 minutes.
A motion was made by Melissa Plowman to accept the minutes and Paris Ward seconded. The
minutes were approved unanimously.
III. HEALTH DISTRICT STAFFING UPDATE
Amy introduced Brandi Smith the new Assistant Director of Health. Brandi comes from the Health &
Wellness Division as the Administrator. That division has 51 people, which is very large. Amy stated
they have talked about breaking up the division and focusing on the clinical services side that offers.
TB, Immunizations and STI. Then the Prevention Promotion section and the work we do with Chronic
Diseases, Healthy Community and Active Living and figure how to make those best fit and move
forward. This should not cost the tax payers any additional dollars. We are also looking for new grants
and what is important in the community. There will be some new things coming up.
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'Mr. Smith asked about the DIS program and the 4 staff. Amy explained that we had talked to the state
and explained what a burden that would put on our Community and the other 7 Health Departments in
Texas. And the state has put together enough money to support the program for one more year. It is
such important work. We have gone from 4 staff to 3 staff. We will not fill the fourth position to save
as much money as we can to make the dollars available for as long as they can be. They will provide •
funds through December 2024. It has been a big blessing.
Dr. Williamson asked what DIS stands for and Amy said Disease Intervention Services.
IV. HB 1750 Update
Amy took the written report to council the second council meeting in August and they did receive the
Health Officials report that was required by House Bill 1750. Council voted to maintain Chapter 14.
Chapter 14 includes regulations for livestock and poultry.
V. COVID Update
Brandi Smith stated that COVID cases are on the rise. Last week we had 140 new cases and 95
reinfections. Mr. Smith asked if we knew anything about hospitalizations. Brandi said we are not
tracking, but they are required to report them. We are not reporting them out. There has not been as
many severe cases.
Dr. Williamson stated last week there was 6 in the hospital and no one in intensive care.
Vaccine update, there is a new COVID vaccine coming out in a couple of weeks. The vaccine will
probably not be covered anymore. Your insurance should pay, but it will not be free from the
government. Pfizer & Moderna will be the two COVID vaccines available. Johnson & Johnson has
expired and is no longer available for use in the US as of May 6, 2023.
Amy said we will offer the vaccine here, but the challenge is they are making decisions at the State
level about what is going to be offered in ASN (Adult Safety Net Program) and TVFC (Texas Vaccines
for Children Program) . One of the things they told us at the last Director's meeting was in the last 10
years they always had enough money to cover those two programs and include the vaccines they
considered the most important and have money left over. This year DSHS is faced with deciding what
will be in those programs. Those are the vaccines we offer at a reduced price and for VFC a very low
cost'or no cost. We will need to wait and see what we receive. If they are not in what we receive a
person will need to have Insurance to cover it or pay out of pocket because we will have to order it on
the private side. Or if they have insurance we will bill the insurance. We have added 9 insurance
contracts that we can now bill. There are a lot of unanswered questions that we will need to work
through because we still have a responsibility to take care of people.
In the state budget, a rider gives instructions on how appropriated funds may or may not be spent.
Rider 40'prohibits the use of DSHS-appropriated funds to promote or advertise COVID-19 vaccinations
in the state fiscal year 2024-2025, which lasts from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2025. We will
need to educate the public on all the vaccines we offer. COVID-19 pamphlets and other educational
materials can be distributed. However, COVID-19 vaccinations should not be singled out from other
vaccines, listed alone, or otherwise listed in a manner meant to promote or advertise.
VI. NEXT MEETING DATE
Next meeting will be November 10, 2023.
VII. ADJOURN
Dr.Williamson adjourned the meeting at 1:05.
Signa re
Print- Keith Williamson, MD, Chair, Tanya Egloff, D.D.S., Vice-Chair, Paris Ward, MA, BS,
Secretary
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