Board of Health

BOARD OF HEALTH ` BOROUGH OF TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY BOARD MEETING, September 9, 2021 The meeting of the Board of Health was held on the above date. Mr. Howard Bader, 2021 Board of Health President, read the Board’s compliance with the Open Public Meeting Law and called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Borough Hall is closed to public meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual meeting was held via Web-ex. The following members were present: Howard Bader Dr. Etta Frankel Mark Alvarez Berton Greenberg Member absent: Dr. Michael Basista Dr. Teresa Brevetti Also present: Councilwoman Julie O’Connor Gabrielle Beck, Youth Liaison Sam Yanovich, Health Officer Jim Fordoko, Incoming Health Officer Ruby Parra, Registered Environmental Health Specialist Omar Stovall, Board of Health Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of June 17, 2021. A voice vote carried the motion. All voted in favor; none were opposed. OLD BUSINESS Gabrielle Beck talked about her role as a Youth liaison. Ms. Beck offered to provide Tenafly High School students with a video of what the Board of Health is working on as well as provide students with mental health resources. Mr. Bader asked who would write the article. Ms. Beck expressed that she would and the idea is still developing. De. Frankel asked what type of information that she is seeking to provide the high school students. Ms. Beck explained that she is looking to provide health related content that would benefit Tenafly High School students and would change on a monthly basis. Mr. Greenberg asked what association she sees in connection with the Board of Health. Ms. Beck responded to show what the Board of Health is doing and how student health needs are being addressed. Dr. Frankel inquired if there is data on vaccinated students. Ms. Beck expressed that she did not have the statistics. Council liaison Councilwoman Dr. O’Connor responded that in the school that she works at the school nurse is collecting vaccine cards of vaccinated student for records. Dr. O’ Connor asked what the connection would be to reach students from the Board of Health. Ms. Beck answered that the first video could be about vaccination and the second video could be for mental health. C. O’ Connor asked Sam Yanovich, Health Officer if the county had any resources. Mr. Yanovich explained that he could Tenafly Board of Health September 9, 2021 Page 2 coordinate having Ms. Beck collaborate with the nursing agency. Dr. Frankel expressed that numbers are needed and that it maybe helpful to bring a Vaccine van to the school. Mr. Yanovich expressed that Tenafly has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state. He continued that residents over 18 is 90% and over 12 is 81%. He added that the mobile vaccination van could be further explored through HARP. Dr. O’ Connor asked Ms. Beck if the collaboration would work for her. Ms. Beck answered that she would be meeting with the New Jersey Department at a Teen Talk event where she plans to address vaccination rates. Mr. Bader how often would she have a video prepared. Ms. Beck answered on a monthly basis. Mr. Bader suggested to have the videos on a quarterly basis. Jim Fordoko, the incoming Health Officer introduced himself to the Board of Health. Dr. O’Connor reported that the Mayor and Council approved an ordinance to prohibit the sale of cannabis. She continued that the Mayor and Council approved a study to be conducted to address areas if the Borough decides to opt-in, where and what types of cannabis could be sold. Dr. O’Connor reported that the Mayor and Council voted to approve a policy that borough employees be vaccinated. Dr. Frankel asked how could employees provide proof of religious exemption. Dr. O’ Connor expressed that the law would allow religious exemption provided that a clergy note is produced. Dr. Frankel asked if it legal for the to prohibited un-vaccinated person. Mr. Bader answered that is an item for Mayor and council to explore. REPORTS OF STAFF Mr. Sam Yanovich, Health Officer, reviewed his September 2021 report. Board members had received this report via email. The number of Tenafly residents that have tested positive for COVID-19 is 1,165 as of September 3. State data on municipal vaccination rates shows 90% of Tenafly residents over 18 years of age are completely vaccinated. The overall State vaccination rate is 71%. In New Jersey, almost 97% of positive COVID cases are from the Delta variant. Breakthrough cases are at an approximate 15% rate. This is not unexpected due to the increase in Delta, along with the relaxing of restrictions. It does not necessarily indicate decreased vaccine effectiveness. A third dose of mRNA vaccine was approved in mid-August for people with “moderate to severe” immunocompromised condition, or for those taking immunosuppressive medications or treatments. No documentation will be needed to prove the need to receive a third dose. Either of the two mRNA vaccines may be used, except an individual must be over 18 for the Moderna vaccine, or over the age of 12 for the Pfizer. Information concerning use of a 2nd dose of the Janssen vaccine has not yet been sufficiently studied to determine whether it also demonstrates improved antibody response with an additional dose. A booster dose will start at the end of September for those who completed their primary course between January-March. The State is planning reopening the mega sites, and the Pharmacies will have boosters available as well, at the initiation of the booster campaign. Tenafly Board of Health September 9, 2021 Page 3 Federal guidelines state that the flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID vaccine. Flu vaccination will be strongly encouraged, as this will provide a good opportunity for co- administration of the two. The NJDOH Communicable Disease Service’s updated K-12 school guidance is available on their website. Some key points include: -Screening: How and when home testing can be applied -Outbreak definition: Three or more cases epidemiologically linked, not from same household, and not identified as close contacts in another setting -Close contact definition: indoors excludes children who were within 3-6 feet of a case whereby both infected student and exposed student(s) wore well fitting masks the entire time. This does not apply to teachers. - Allowance of use of clear masks in certain circumstances. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)/Mosquitoes A team from the CDC will be visiting New Jersey in September in order to coordinate with the Communicable Disease Service and Mosquito control agencies in order to evaluate the existing Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) surveillance program. New patterns of EEE have been noted in the past few years, with a trending pattern to the Northern part of the State forecasted. Ms. Parra, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, reviewed her report which covered June 16, 2021- September 7, 2021. Many inspections were done at numerous food establishments. Nine (9) food establishments received satisfactory ratings. One (1) food establishment received conditional ratings. Spot checks were conducted to garbage and dumpster’s area located on bypass road from Washington Road to Clinton Avenue and to Spring Hill Hotel for main kitchen opening. Three (3) pools were inspected and deemed satisfactory. She reported that one animal exposure from a person living in Tenafly .However, animal exposure occurred in Cresskill. She noted that there were two (2) issues with animal bites. She also addressed numerous complaints filed with her office. Ms. Parra’s full report is on file in the Health Office. The next meeting of the Board of Health is Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 p.m. A voice vote carried the motion. All voted in favor of the motion; none were opposed. Respectfully submitted, Omar Stovall Board of Health Secretary