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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.

Visit here to view the webcast.

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.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

ODP Announcement 22-046 serves as a reminder about a recent update to recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Health about details for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The CDC updated their COVID-19 vaccine booster recommendations on May 19, 2022, to include guidance on boosters for children ages 5 through 11.

Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine booster, and those who are immunocompromised should receive a second booster dose at least four months after their first booster.

Eligible individuals are now able to schedule appointments and receive vaccine or booster doses. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) will not be coordinating clinics for COVID-19 vaccine or booster doses.

Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) and Supports Coordinators (SC) must make note of the following:

  • Supports Coordinators (SC) are responsible for ensuring vaccine access for each individual supported by their organization.
  • SCs are expected to be aware of vaccine and vaccination process information.
  • SCs are responsible to support the vaccination process through coordination of vaccine access and vaccination appointments.

Residential Providers must make note of the following:

  • Residential service providers are expected to identify a vaccine provider or have a plan for vaccinations of residents.
  • Providers encountering difficulties locating vaccine resources can contact ODP via email.

Questions about this announcement may be directed via email to ODP.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) will host a call on May 5, 2022, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm that will focus on and discuss post-COVID conditions (PCC), specifically cognitive symptoms or “brain fog” following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) has recently published a Multi-Disciplinary Collaborative Consensus Guidance Statement on the Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive Symptoms in PCC that provides practical guidance to clinicians in the assessment and treatment of individuals with cognitive symptoms and a history consistent with PCC.

To participate, use the provided Zoom link. The passcode is: 828356.
Or dial 699-254-5252. Webinar ID: 160 331 6732. The call will be recorded and will be available on the COCA Call web page a few hours after the live event ends. Registration is not required to participate.

The slide set will be available on the day of the call on the COCA Call web page under Call Materials. Free Continuing Education (CE) will be offered for this COCA Call.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting an initial booster when eligible.

On March 29, 2022, the CDC updated its recommendations to allow individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, as well as people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago, to be eligible for another mRNA booster to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19.

It was also announced that adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

These updated recommendations acknowledge the increased risk of severe disease in certain populations, including those who are elderly or over the age of 50 with multiple underlying conditions, along with the currently available data on vaccine and booster effectiveness.

The CDC web page How Do I Find a COVID-19 Vaccine? offers additional guidance to locate a COVID-19 vaccine provider.