arkansas department of health

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs an executive order on Jan. 13, 2023, disbanding seven committees created by her predecessor, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, in 2020 in response the COVID-19 pandemic. (Governor's Press Office)

Sanders executive order repeals COVID-19 committees, advisory groups from 2020

BY: - January 13, 2023

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders eliminated five state entities on Friday that her predecessor Gov. Asa Hutchinson created via executive order to address the COVID-19 pandemic almost three years ago. Sanders’ own executive order repealed five orders she called “obsolete” in a statement. The order also asks the Arkansas Department of Health to focus on […]

Arkansas hospitals and health advocates urge vaccinations during harsh flu season

BY: - December 14, 2022

Several Arkansas hospitals joined forces with the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement to urge Arkansans to get vaccinated against influenza, according to a Wednesday news release from ACHI. Baptist Health in Central Arkansas, Mercy Hospitals in Northeast Arkansas, Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville and St. Bernards Healthcare in Jonesboro signed onto ACHI’s statement encouraging […]

Arkansas health advocacy group urges flu shots ahead of Thanksgiving

BY: - November 10, 2022

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement’s policy arm is urging Arkansans to get vaccinated against the flu before the end of this week in order to be protected and protect others from the virus during Thanksgiving gatherings, the center stated in a Thursday news release. Flu season usually starts in October, and several states including […]

A resident of a Chicago area senior center gets an influenza vaccine during an event hosted by the Chicago Department of Health. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Arkansas doctors see flu, RSV uptick in light of pandemic

BY: - November 2, 2022

Arkansas has seen an uptick in cases of influenza after only a month of the typical flu season, although so far the state has not seen as many or as severe cases as neighboring states, medical professionals say. Additionally, the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has spiked after the usual season for the virus […]

A counselor holds a pregnant woman's hands during a session.

Arkansas’ $1M pregnancy resource center grant untouched so far

BY: - August 18, 2022

Arkansas’ crisis pregnancy centers so far have declined to apply for a new $1 million grant program created by the state Legislature to help fund their operations. The application period opened Aug. 1 and ends Aug. 26, but no one has applied for the money aimed at helping those facing unintended pregnancy and encouraging them […]