Vermont Health Department Past News Releases Summary
Summary
The Vermont Department of Health provides a summary of past news releases from 2022-2025, highlighting key public health challenges and responses. Topics include infectious diseases like measles and flu, vaccination efforts, substance use disorder treatment, and environmental health concerns.
What changed
The Vermont Department of Health has published a summary of its past news releases from 2022 through 2025, detailing significant public health events and departmental responses. The summaries cover a range of issues including outbreaks of measles, Jamestown Canyon virus, and H5N1 bird flu in 2025; preparedness for a solar eclipse, infectious diseases, and flood recovery in 2024; a decrease in COVID-19 releases and continued concerns about tick-borne diseases in 2023; and the evolution of COVID-19 guidance and the mpox outbreak in 2022. The department also noted progress in substance use disorder treatment, vaccination accessibility, and environmental health initiatives.
This information serves as a historical overview of public health activities and challenges in Vermont. While it does not introduce new regulatory requirements or immediate compliance actions, it provides context for ongoing public health priorities and the department's operational focus. Compliance officers should note the recurring themes of infectious disease management, vaccination promotion, and substance use disorder support as areas of continued regulatory and public health attention within the state.
Source document (simplified)
Past News Releases
In this section: 2025 News Releases 2024 News Releases 2023 News Releases 2022 News Releases See current news releases
See public health news releases from recent years.
In 2025, public health faced both new and returning challenges. The Health Department responded to measles cases during a major outbreak across North America, confirmed Vermont’s first-ever case of Jamestown Canyon virus, and continued to monitor the risks of H5N1 bird flu. Our teams worked to make sure Vermonters could get the vaccines they need, expanded care for people with substance use disorder, and strengthened partnerships with neighboring states. We also said goodbye to Dr. Mark Levine, who led Vermont through the COVID-19 pandemic, and welcomed our new Health Commissioner, Dr. Rick Hildebrant.
The Health Department supported the state’s preparedness for a once-in-a-generation total solar eclipse that brought over 150,000 visitors to Vermont, responded to infectious diseases including historically rare confirmed cases of measles and Eastern equine encephalitis, and provided resources and guidance to aid in recovery from a second consecutive year of disastrous floods. Vermont also marked a nation-leading decline in deaths caused by opioid overdose, and noted declines in tobacco and alcohol use among pregnant people and young Vermonters.
For the first time since 2020, COVID-19 was the subject of few news releases, though prevention and vaccination messaging continued. Tick and mosquito-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis returned as seasonal concerns. Health issues related to extreme heat and cold, air quality, flooding and other environmental and social justice challenges were reflected in the public health response to climate change. The ongoing substance use and opioid crisis was marked by innovations in prevention, treatment and recovery. The Health Department, with state and partner organizations also delivered on tools and programs to make Vermont an Age Strong and age-friendly place for all.
COVID-19 further evolved, and public health work transitioned to become similar to other infectious diseases. Guidance was streamlined, state-run testing sites closed as at-home testing became prevalent, and more COVID-19 vaccines became available. The Health Department also responded to a new infectious disease outbreak of mpox. Our work with other state agencies to reduce lead in school drinking water was a success, and we continued supporting older Vermonters through various programs.
In 2025, public health faced both new and returning challenges. The Health Department responded to... ### 2024 News Releases
The Health Department supported the state’s preparedness for a once-in-a-generation total solar eclipse that brought... ### Statewide Youth Survey Shows Mental Health Challenges Persist for Vermont Students
For Immediate Release: November 22, 2024 Media Contact: Kyle Casteel Communication Office │ Department of... ### New Report Shows Progress on Health During Pregnancy
For Immediate Release: November 12, 2024 Media Contact: Kyle Casteel Communication Office │ Department of... ### Be Ready for Respiratory Virus Season
For Immediate Release: October 21, 2024 Media Contact: Kyle Casteel - Communication Office │... ### Vermont Department of Health Confirms First Eastern Equine Encephalitis Death
For Immediate Release: Oct. 10, 2024 Media Contact: Communication Office │ Department of Health 802-863-7280... ### 2023 News Releases
For the first time since 2020, COVID-19 was the subject of few news releases, though... ### 2022 News Releases
COVID-19 further evolved, and public health work transitioned to become similar to other infectious diseases... Subscribe to Past News Releases Last Updated:
January 15, 2026
Related changes
Source
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get Healthcare alerts
Weekly digest. AI-summarized, no noise.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when news publishes new changes.