Calvert County’s Health Officer, Dr. Larry Polsky, delivered his semi-annual update Tuesday, July 8 before the Calvert County Commissioners, who serve as the county’s Board of Health.
Polsky had some good news to report, however, the revelations were tempered by data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The report has determined that Calvert County “has significantly higher rates” of tobacco use by high school-age youth when compared to other Maryland counties, Polsky said.
The health officer said that data included students who smoke and those who chew tobacco.
Polsky pointed out that the recent death of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn from oral cancer attributed to his longtime habit of chewing tobacco has heightened awareness of the deadly effects of all forms of tobacco use.
The survey also reported Calvert County has a higher percentage (40 percent) of students who live with someone who smokes cigarettes or cigars.
“They [youth] look at behavior,” said Polsky, who added the old axiom “don’t do as I do, do as I say” is not being adhered to by many high school-aged students in Calvert, who appear to be mimicking the habits of their elders.
Polsky reported Healthy People 2020 has established a target of reducing the percentage of youth grades nine to 12 who have smoked cigarettes in the previous 30 days to 16 percent.
Based on Maryland youth tobacco surveys, overall the state has met the Healthy People 2020 target for reducing current cigarette use among U.S. students.
The presentation included the airing of a short video by Patuxent High School student Sydney Bailey, which won first-place in a recent “Kick Butts Video Contest.”
On the good side of Calvert’s overall health, Polsky reported the county has Maryland’s second-highest influenza vaccination rate for seniors—7 percent higher than the state average and 10 percent higher than the national average.
Pertussis cases in Calvert, which saw a big spike in 2013 (18) have been lowered dramatically in 2014 (4). Additionally, Calvert has a low infant mortality rate compared to the rest of Maryland, plus lower numbers of asthma sufferers.
Despite all its problems with tobacco use and heart disease, Calvert is the seventh “healthiest county” in Maryland, Polsky said.
According to Polsky, the state has changed its school vaccination requirements for the upcoming 2014-2015 school year. Kindergarteners will now need two doses of Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine while seventh-graders will be required to receive one additional dose of Tdap and one of the meningococcal vaccine. The Calvert County Health Department will conduct a clinic for the school-mandated vaccines Aug. 14.
Commissioners’ President Pat Nutter [R] asked Polsky if he had any information who what national health officials are predicting for the upcoming flu season. Polsky reported the Calvert County Health Department is still awaiting word from officials about the makeup of vaccine.
For more information on the Calvert County Health Department, visit www.calverthealth.org
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
