[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6182777,"mediaKeyId","5103065-5c64d67386d9278942ea65909c506680","parentId",5103065,"title","New Canaan health staff outline vaccines program; COVID guidance remains federal and state-led","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",2559675,"endMs",2748310,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5103065-5c64d67386d9278942ea65909c506680&start=2559&end=2748","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5103065-5c64d67386d9278942ea65909c506680/thumbnail_2559675.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6182777/Connecticut/New-Canaan-health-staff-outline-vaccines-program-COVID-guidance-remains-federal-and-state-led","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182777-47acb65ee733ec00d1aa198b1a465be6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079163&Signature=kWWFoxWj8I~2mL-KQx7ywKk0ZDB03Tpe7ghlUqDFpZu6NSDLyNx0s32p8nuF8xStOYqxJRCJAUAGBQePOU8BJDekPdVEO5Bo-8XBERjLJnugZxFZYAha7zuITvCW7aUAvDsNYFdmqq30l0cfsqTM7HHu2FPpSgz-DPi0b8KDG4SBAmJxK4Fh8KMF-2-dspuFtYCxzWkUPpMB0HUOLxairNX38SJ7IJa4PSZHsEoy8N2CRyAZafHugaqChTEkMdoKDhlL40IJMtWBTcFFxoHT33Tn5NLMQIqGOmVigaRVhN4vIaMqOyqbevS1dz9TO0MM8ibDFs3d650dpI~qd1-9Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Canaan, CT","date","2025-06-30T17:44:40.147Z","article","Amy Lahnini and health department staff told the Town Council Committee on Health and Human Services the town continues to operate a Vaccines for Children program, which the department described as funded at the federal level and intended to supply childhood vaccines required for school or daycare at no charge to eligible children.

Staff said most children receive routine immunizations from pediatricians and the town steps in for moving families or providers without supply. The department confirmed COVID-19 vaccine guidance remains driven by federal and state authorities; as of the meeting there was no new town-level recommendation beyond existing federal guidance and the health department said it was awaiting clearer state messaging for the fall season.

Officials said adult seasonal vaccines must be purchased by the town if the town supplies them; historically the town has purchased seasonal doses but staff proposed reducing purchases this year to focus on populations that cannot access pharmacies or provider offices — for example, homebound residents — because most adults can obtain seasonal vaccines through pharmacies or primary care and insurance coverage.

The department said timing for state and federal seasonal vaccine recommendations typically becomes clearer in August after monitoring Southern Hemisphere patterns. Health staff said they will update the committee and the public as state guidance and vaccine availability become clear.

Discussion only: no changes to program funding or a new town policy were adopted at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council June 26, 2025 Health Department Liaison Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","New Canaan’s health department told the Town Council Committee on Health and Human Services it will continue the federally funded Vaccines for Children program and said adult seasonal vaccine purchases by the town will likely be limited this year to homebound or otherwise immobile residents.","taxTitle","New Canaan, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",57946,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6182782,"Resident presenter tells New Canaan committee gas leaf blowers pose health and noise risks",430,1115165,1545559,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5103065-5c64d67386d9278942ea65909c506680&start=1115&end=1545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5103065-5c64d67386d9278942ea65909c506680/thumbnail_1115165.jpg","/articles/6182782/Connecticut/Resident-presenter-tells-New-Canaan-committee-gas-leaf-blowers-pose-health-and-noise-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182782-1b51c252e27e0e56694ce4fd4666e105/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079163&Signature=QKwO3-JHih4pLqLj1XVp3EE0goKWDWUwoKiLkelsAnfx7N9A5-IU8QQ5bDf3-lKpLxhA~q5YtuGnqv3zwBDlLEbWM5oUglujLUUgcK8wQD3-vQgIj4-~RTQLd~uuVfQgZgWc626F9nq4C2NgrezwfobE8~oqq-nz39yKwCvHrRy8iNYsxabQpdcXbn5Sm4NJbPAibtultp3WUYtlNFxorseAk2lMhXhdz8c94XnPIKqCMrwP6EN6WS8e~COOMd~OtVpKJDEXi6M5IypMROp9WjAr72S0gpI-esRRFv2F-z2bEdnZePo1fsbWiEnfTItVx030HexeGwk1mnb8KCqwAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Lehi, a New Canaan resident who researched the issue, presented research to the Town Council Committee on Health and Human Services describing airborne and noise harms from gas-powered leaf blowers and argued for at least seasonal restrictions.

Lehi told the committee that two-stroke gas engines used in many blowers expel a high proportion of partially burned fuel and unburned hydrocarbons, which the presenter said include compounds linked in some studies to cancer and other organ damage. He cited particulate pollution (PM10 and PM2.5) and said children and pregnant people are particularly vulnerable because of higher air intake per body weight and developing organs. Lehi also described low-frequency noise from gas blowers as penetrating windows and walls and linked such noise in the literature to sleep disruption, anxiety and learning impacts.

Lehi pointed to actions in other municipalities, noting several Westchester County communities and Norwalk have restricted leaf blower use and that some towns have multi-season limits or year-round bans. He argued summer restrictions would address the period of highest exposure when windows are open and residents — especially children — are outdoors.

Council members asked New Canaan health staff whether the local department could lead public education or be part of a panel. Amy Lahnini, director of health, said the department is prioritizing core local public-health responsibilities (vaccination programs, vector control and similar work) and is not currently staffed to undertake toxicology or pollution regulatory analysis. She suggested the town could invite state-level air-quality or environmental experts or other agencies such as occupational safety (OSHA) to participate in any advisory panel.

Committee members discussed noise ordinances and municipal experience: health departments historically handled noise in some towns, but many municipalities have shifted enforcement to police departments. Attendees noted Greenwich and other communities had previously involved local health officials when addressing leaf blower noise and that noise enforcement often rests with police. Connecticut’s proposed state-level measure discussed at the meeting would apply to state agencies only and therefore would not by itself restrict private landscapers or homeowners in New Canaan.

Discussion only: Lehi’s presentation and committee Q&A did not produce a vote or ordinance draft at the meeting. The health department agreed to help identify state experts and said staff could participate in further informational sessions if asked.","A resident researcher presented medical and scientific literature to the Town Council committee on health, citing particulate pollution, carcinogens from two‑stroke engines and low‑frequency noise from gas leaf blowers; health staff said the department currently is not positioned to lead regulation but can help identify state experts for a panel.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6182787,"New Canaan health officials report rise in tick submissions, urge thorough tick checks",238,99885,338210,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5103065-5c64d67386d9278942ea65909c506680&start=99&end=338","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5103065-5c64d67386d9278942ea65909c506680/thumbnail_99885.jpg","/articles/6182787/Connecticut/New-Canaan-health-officials-report-rise-in-tick-submissions-urge-thorough-tick-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182787-85db7881661e9e8a0aa2393ed53ed424/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079163&Signature=E~XameH7HKnZKVeQZ0AKD34204sGVY-YOUyAuf9cK2FG-hhYGwB1MLThPpN5HEo9xCDoztOeG48U1lmn~140OfpfQij5OqfDg3jkQAvoF1HMZXUY94nXjIJzjgDTN4nrgHyD2X4eUOtXV98Qd9XUOsdJTlkK0UJIluG6sXhW6-zEqVy2MzNyi-~kxwwCNWall08OlwIAJwazYBT1L6Tt7jHNf5hfrDC6YALpk-FSilmKE~PDDhpscou1cTrkYk0LFMgvxq2eytVTxGfbpzHhaMdqmTrReiPcXnnJ3Oky8A6Ucq-SlXX4yVAgEWjAkhbWP36GrRCTmi~MZa5eWOFJQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amy Lahnini, the new director of health for New Canaan, told the Town Council Committee on Health and Human Services that the health department has seen an increase in residents bringing suspected ticks to the health office and that the department is doing preliminary identification before sending deer ticks to the state laboratory for testing.

Lahnini said the department is trying to “unburden the state” by identifying non-deer ticks in-house and sending only deer ticks — the species the state lab tests for — to the state. She explained the state tests deer ticks for multiple pathogens, not only Lyme disease, and that results can take one to two weeks. Shannon, a health department staff member, noted the department has been able to identify many submissions in-office and therefore not submit them to the state lab.

The pair described the department’s top prevention messages for residents: stay in the middle of trails (avoiding trail edges where ticks are more common), conduct a tick check after outdoor activity, and shower after being outside. Lahnini added that the office provides demonstration identifications to residents and sometimes gives small kits to people who report difficulty removing ticks.

Speakers discussed recent lab results: department staff said roughly 60 suspected deer ticks had been submitted to the state lab to date, with about six testing positive for Lyme disease and four testing positive for babesiosis in May. The health department said June results were still pending and reiterated that quicker in-office identification helps residents and their primary care providers decide about prophylactic treatment within the 72-hour window when that option is considered.

Committee members asked whether the health department charges residents for testing. Shannon said residents are not charged for in‑office identification and that the town pays postage to ship ticks; the state lab does not charge the town for testing. The department said it is not currently charging residents for tick identification or for removal assistance when residents come to the office.

The health department said it plans more public education: repeat in-person talks (including planning some after work hours), flyers for people unable to attend talks, and an expanded social media presence (Facebook and an in-development Instagram account) to post seasonal reminders and prevention guidance.

Discussion only: staff described procedures, current test counts, and education plans. No formal policy or ordinance action was taken at the meeting.","At a June meeting of the Town Council committee on health, the New Canaan Health Department said tick submissions have increased, described how the town screens ticks before sending deer ticks to the state lab, and urged residents to perform regular tick checks and shower after outdoor activity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New Canaan health staff outline vaccines program; COVID guidance remains federal and state-led

Resident presenter tells New Canaan committee gas leaf blowers pose health and noise risks

New Canaan health officials report rise in tick submissions, urge thorough tick checks