January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. About 1 in 33 babies in the U.S. is born with a birth defect each year, according to the CDC. The most common defects are: congenital heart defects, club foot, cleft lip and cleft palate, and spina bifida. HealthStreet is joining the nationwide effort to raise awareness of birth defects and their impact on families. Not all birth defects can be prevented. But you can increase your chances of having a healthy baby by managing health conditions and by adopting healthy behaviors before and during pregnancy. Taking care of yourself and doing what’s best for you is also best for your baby! Visit the CDC to learn more about 5 Tips for Preventing Birth Defects.

Registration for COVID-19 vaccine now open for those 65+

"The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County anticipates receiving its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines this week. This represents a significant milestone in our community’s response to this global pandemic,” stated Paul Myers, Administrator of the Alachua County Health Department. “We are now accepting registrations from Alachua County residents who are age 65 and older." Those who want to register to receive the first of two doses have two options: register online or call (352) 334-8810, 8 A.M. to midnight, seven days a week to register to receive the vaccine. Registration requires your name, date of birth, phone number, and address. A representative from the Alachua County Health Department will contact registrants once vaccine availability is confirmed to provide vaccination time and location. For more information, contact Paul Myers at 352-334-8873, email Paul.Myers@flhealth.gov, or visit http://alachua.floridahealth.gov/.

SAVE THE DATE!

HealthStreet will be hosting an Our Community, Our Health town hall meeting Thursday, January 28th at 5 PM EST. RSVP for this free event. Panelists from UNC Gillings, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Boston Medical Center will be discussing the challenges and opportunities of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in rural and urban areas joined by voices from the community. Please join us.

SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR

Interested in participating in research?

Here are a few studies that you can participate in now:

+The Speech Development in Children Study is examining how children learn to recognize speech. Eligible participants must be parents of children who are 3-12 years of age with a history of ear infections or reading problems.

+The Familial, Geographic, and Social Determinants of Mental Well-being in Rural LGBTQ+ Adolescents Study is exploring how sexual orientation and gender combined with family, social, and geographic environments impact well-being. Eligible participants must be 13-18 years of age and self-identify as LGBTQ+.

If you are interested in hearing about these or other studies, contact our Study Navigator, Sara, at 352-294-4873.

Do you or someone you know have cancer? We'd love to talk about opportunities to participate in research. Please share this link to become a member and learn about cancer screenings.

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