DHHS News

FDA advisory committee recommends authorization of pediatric COVID-19 vaccine

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Today’s vote by the FDA’s independent advisory committee recommending emergency use authorization of Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 is a significant step...
Last updated: October 26, 2021

CDC approves booster doses for Moderna, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccines

(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today recommended the use of booster doses for people who were vaccinated with both the Moderna and...
Last updated: October 22, 2021

Suicides and Drug Overdoses Haven’t Increased in Utah During the COVID-19 Pandemic

(Salt Lake City) – Despite observed increases in the number of suicides and drug overdoses in other states and overall nationally, new data released today by the Utah Department of...
Last updated: October 21, 2021

Exciting Changes Coming to Utah’s Adoption Law

A new law, effective November 1, 2021, allows Utah-born adoptees to now get a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate without having to go to court, if the birth...
Last updated: October 12, 2021

Media contacts

For media inquiries, contact our on-call Public Information Officers (PIO) at:

Joe Dougherty, director of communications

News releases and media statements

Spanish news releases and media statements

We strive to provide all news releases and media statements in Spanish. Our language access team can provide translation services by contacting them at languageaccess.utah.gov.  

Our graphic and writing standards

Our agency name is the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Use DHHS if an acronym is needed. 

  • DHHS graphic standards—This guide outlines how to use our logo, colors, fonts, and imagery in printed and electronic media. 
  • DHHS logos 
  • DHHS writing style guide—This guide creates clear and consistent language and tone across all written products, both internal and external to our agency.

Media guides and safe messaging

How we talk about suicide, mental health, and traumatic events matters. When we follow safe messaging guidelines, we contribute to a hopeful narrative about triumph over adversity. We communicate that support is available. Safe messaging promotes resiliency, encourages help-seeking, publicizes prevention successes, and encourages actions to help prevent suicide. 

When writing about suicide, mental health, or traumatic events follow safe messaging guidelines. Here are some of our favorite resources.