Inside Aging December 2022 Newsletter Now Available
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CDC Recommends Updated COVID-19 Booster Shots
Updated (bivalent) boosters became available September 2, 2022. Prior to September 2022, the available boosters were original, monovalent boosters. The CDC recommends that people ages 5 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose, whether that was:
- Their final primary series dose, or
- An original (monovalent) booster.
People who have gotten more than one original (monovalent) booster are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) booster.
Boosters are an important part of protecting yourself from getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. The CDC has developed a tool to determine when or if you (or your child) can get one or more COVID-19 boosters. This tool can be accessed here.
ICF/IDD Updated Info on CDC/CMS COVID-19 Infection Control
Last week during an ANCOR ICF/IDD Community of Practice call, Catherine Thibedeau shared a PowerPoint with updated information regarding COVID-19 Infection Control. She has graciously shared this information to the benefit of our ICF providers.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Catherine via email.
CDC Releases New HEADS UP to Sports Officials for Online Concussion Training
The new HEADS UP to Sports Officials: Online Concussion Training was developed through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) to share the latest guidance on concussion safety and prevention. The training provides essential information to help sports officials spot possible concussion signs and symptoms that can help keep athletes safe.
Sports officials will learn how to:
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion;
- Determine when athletes should be removed from play due to signs and symptoms of concussion; and
- Promote a culture of concussion safety.
Illustrated case studies in the training help guide sports officials through practical scenarios they can use in their on-field activities.
Additionally, there are other CDC HEADS UP resources for concussion safety:
- Training for coaches
- Training for school professionals
- Training for athletic trainers
- Training for healthcare providers
- Videos on concussion safety
- Graphics and infographics
“Monkeypox: What You Need To Know” Webcast Recording Now Available
On August 4, 2022, the Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency. Since then, every state and Washington, D.C. has recorded cases of the virus. As of September 20, 2022, the CDC reported 24,203 total confirmed monkeypox cases in the United States. Of those cases, 3 percent, or 708 total, were reported in Pennsylvania.
To raise awareness of the epidemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services approached the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s Aging Team, which operates the State’s Learning Network, who coordinated just-in-time learning for all long-term care and community programs across Commonwealth. The PA Department of Human Services and PA Department of Health presented “Monkeypox: What You Need to Know” on August 31.
FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Omicron Booster Shots
CDC Loosens Coronavirus Guidance, Signaling Strategic Shift
CDC Advisers Give OK to Novavax COVID-19 Shot for Unvaccinated Adults
Moderna’s Shots for Children 6 to 17 Win Backing of CDC Advisers
June 3 News Alerts From Infection Prevention Specialist Partnership With Health Care Quality Units
ODP Announcement 22-060 provides a News Alert from the Infection Prevention Specialist Partnership with Health Care Quality Units with information regarding performing COVID testing, treatment, and up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine booster dose recommendations.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has received funding through a Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) appropriation under the 2019 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) — Enhanced Detection Expansion (EDE) Grant.
This grant funding is being used to build capacity and provide additional support for infection prevention and control through the Health Care Quality Units (HCQUs) in partnership with a team of infection prevention specialists from Infectious Disease (ID) Connect. This project will run through June 2023.
A separate informational News Alert regarding Monkeypox is also available.
Monkeypox facts:
- It is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus.
- It was first discovered in 1958.
- The majority of the infections are in Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Cases outside of Africa are linked to international travel or imported animals.
- Rodents and non-human primates harbor the virus.
- 19 cases have been confirmed since 6/1/22.
- It is unclear how cases were exposed, but early data suggests that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up a high number of cases.
- But, this does NOT mean that it is a sexually transmitted disease approved vaccine in this group.
For more information, please contact your regional HCQU contacts are listed in the ODP Announcement.
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