1031: Public Health Wins: Reductions in RSV Hospitalizations and Overdose Rates Nationwide

On this Public Health Thank You Day, ASTHO’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Susan Kansagra, joins us to share encouraging news from the front lines of public health. Thanks to increased partnerships with birthing hospitals and the rollout of monoclonal antibodies for infants and the maternal RSV vaccine, infant RSV hospitalizations dropped nearly 30–40% last season, one of the most significant improvements in years. Dr. Kansagra also discusses a major decline in overdose deaths, driven by expanded community partnerships, naloxone distribution, peer support specialists, and innovative response programs.  Looking ahead, she explains what’s next with the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Grant, how states plan to use this funding to strengthen workforce, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention, and health technology, and reflects on the collective hard work of the nation’s public health workforce heading into the holiday season.