VashonBePrepared: Public Health and Preparedness Update

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Washington’s Medicaid program, called Apple Health, provides no-cost health insurance coverage for thousands of households, including many here on Vashon.

During the COVID emergency, a requirement for annual renewal was suspended to make it easier for those who qualify to get care. The renewal requirement was reinstated this month, and failure to renew will mean losing health insurance.

To maintain your Apple Health insurance coverage, first, go online here and check that your contact information is up to date. (That webpage is also the right spot to start a new Apple Health account if you are not already signed up.)

While online, note the date your Apple Health Insurance is due to expire. Then watch for an email or letter about renewal closer to the time of expiration. Respond to that by answering all questions.

Representatives from Public Health — Seattle & King County (PHSKC) come to Vashon frequently to help people sign up or renew their Apple Health insurance coverage. PHSKC representative Miguel Urquiza will be back on the island from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Vashon Library.

Urquiza, who is bilingual in Spanish and English, also welcomes your call at (206) 477-6965 or (206) 491-3761.

Likely: Second Bivalent Boost Recommendation for Some

Multiple reports suggest the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will soon authorize a second bivalent booster for certain at-risk individuals. According to a spokesperson for the FDA, people 65 or older will be able to receive the vaccination if they want it. It must have been at least four months since their previous booster. People of all ages with immune deficiencies would also be eligible.

The bivalent COVID vaccines include a component of the original virus strain to provide broad protection, plus a component of the Omicron variant to provide better protection against the omicron variant. They are called bivalent COVID-19 vaccines because they contain these two components.

Media reports also indicate that an annual fall COVID vaccination program seems likely to start later this year, with new formulations each year tuned to the latest variants. Stay tuned!

Current COVID Safety Advice for Basic Risk Level

Wear an N95 mask indoors in public if you have been exposed to COVID, are at risk for health or other reasons, or live with or spend time with someone at high risk.

Keep vaccinations up to date, including boosters.

Maintain good ventilation at home and at work.

Avoid those with suspected or confirmed COVID, and if exposed to COVID, wear a mask in public and avoid contact with those at high risk for 10 days. Always home test if you have symptoms.

Prep Tip: Cyber Safe Your Precious Documents

Last week, VashonBePrepared wrote, in its newsletter and in a Beachcomber article, about ways to ensure you can access vital financial and other documents after a disaster. You’ll need that information to recover from a windstorm, earthquake, fire, or other types of emergencies.

As we suggested in last week’s article, online backups can be an excellent option.

But what about hackers who might want to steal your data, or even your identity?

You can significantly reduce that cyber-risk by taking some simple precautions. A list of a few of these, gleaned from FEMA and other sources, can now be found in VashonBePrepard’s April 14 newsletter, published here.

Sign up to receive VashonBePrepared’s weekly newsletter and explore the website vashonbeprepared.org for other important resources for preparedness and public health information.