By Donald Gilpin

For the third year in a row Princeton has been named a Mayors Wellness Campaign “Healthy Town” winner by the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute. Local health officials are not resting on their laurels, however, with many health and federal program funding challenges on the horizon.

The “Healthy Town” designation highlighted 32 towns in New Jersey that “go above and beyond to improve health and wellness in their communities through innovative programs in areas such as exercise, healthy eating, and mental health education and awareness,” according to a press release from the Municipality.

Princeton Mayor Mark Freda emphasized the town’s “commitment to harm reduction” and its “ongoing efforts to prioritize public health and safety through compassionate, evidence-based approaches.”

He noted, “Over the past year, our harm reduction campaign has included community-wide Narcan training sessions, equipping residents with the tools to prevent overdose deaths, as well as educational book talks that have fostered important conversations about substance use, stigma, and recovery.”

The press release goes on to state that Princeton, and other communities in the Mayors Wellness Campaign, complete a comprehensive Healthy Town application, reporting on the research they’ve done to identify their community health needs and explaining how they have organized their local Mayors Wellness Campaign committee. The application “highlights the actions the towns have taken to make their communities healthier places to live, work, age, and play.”

In a follow-up email, Princeton Deputy Administrator/Director of Health Jeff Grosser discussed some of the work that lies ahead for the Princeton Health Department with the recent suspension of federal funding, as well as the threats of bird flu and measles, and the need to prepare for whatever emergency might next arise.

“The suspension of all federal grants is expected to have a significant impact on our department in the coming year,” said Grosser. “Currently we have two active grants that serve as a continuation of COVID-19 funding. Additionally, reductions in research funding at agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) may delay the dissemination of critical information that our office relies on to inform and support the community.”

He added, “The overall uncertainty surrounding federal program funding has prompted local officials to proactively explore alternative solutions to mitigate potential budget shortfalls.”

Grosser went on to point out that the mayor and Princeton Council have “demonstrated a strong commitment to readiness” by investing in staffing and ensuring access to essential equipment.

He also noted that the Princeton Health Department continues to strengthen its emergency preparedness through strategic partnerships with local healthcare providers, ongoing public health initiatives, and continuous refinement of response protocols based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grosser stated that there is “a continued emphasis on achieving strong immunization coverage across all vaccine-preventable diseases,” but he warned that “without consistent federal funding, expanding our current capabilities or executing another large-scale community vaccination campaign may become increasingly challenging.”

A measles outbreak recently occurred in Texas, and Grosser said that three confirmed cases have been reported in New Jersey (seven were reported in 2024), but at this time there is no community transmission of measles in New Jersey.

Of the 301 confirmed measles cases reported in the U.S. through March 13 of this year, 95 percent occurred among children and other individuals who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.

“Princeton maintains an exceptionally high MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccination rate, with over 98 percent of K-12 students vaccinated, one of the highest rates in Mercer County,” said Grosser. “This strong immunization coverage provides herd immunity, significantly reducing the risk of measles transmission and protecting individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.”

The Princeton Health Department continues to work with K-12 schools to assess immunization rates and to evaluate response strategies to ensure preparedness in the event of any transmission or exposure.

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has urged all those planning to travel to ensure that they are up to date on all routine vaccinations, particularly the MMR vaccine. Parents of infants aged 6 to 11 months who plan to travel internationally should consult their pediatrician about early MMR vaccination prior to departure.

NJDOH is also encouraging health care providers to assess immunization status and ensure that all patients are current on routine vaccinations, and health care administrators should also verify that their staff have documented immunity to measles.

Grosser pointed out that the MMR vaccine is widely available at local pharmacies, health care provider offices, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Individuals without health insurance can access vaccinations through FQHCs such as Zufall Health, located at the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, which provides health care services on a sliding scale.

“Ensuring high MMR vaccination coverage remains a critical public health priority to prevent measles outbreaks and protect our communities,” said Grosser.

As far as H5N1 bird flu is concerned, the NJDOH as of March 10 reported: no human cases in the state; confirmed detections among wild birds in a number of counties, including Mercer; presumptive positive detection in poultry in Hudson, Mercer, and Union counties; confirmed detection in two feral cats in Hunterdon County; and no cattle/livestock cases.

Nationwide, there have been 70 human cases reported, including one fatality. “Fortunately, we have not seen sustained person-to-person transmission,” said Grosser. “However, the situation requires continuous monitoring and vigilant public health surveillance in case any changes indicate easier spread.”

Grosser considered upcoming health department priorities. “Moving forward, we will continue to monitor policy developments, advocate for sustained funding, and explore alternative financial resources to uphold critical public health initiatives,” he said. “Despite the uncertainties ahead, our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our community remains unwavering.”