• On August 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States. Changes include:

• • Updated considerations for COVID-19 vaccination in people with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Updated information on vaccine administration errors and deviations in Appendix A (Table).

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a new at-home, point of care antigen test, the AccessBio CareStart COVID-19 Home Test. This is a lateral flow, over-the-counter, visually read test, and no reader is required. Like other antigen tests, it provides qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigens. This test is designed to be used for serial antigen testing, and two tests are to be performed over 2–3 days with an interval of 24–48 hours between the two tests. Like other serial antigen tests, the test indication is broad, and it can be used to test people with or without COVID-19 symptoms and with or without an epidemiologic reason to suspect COVID-19. This test is also CLIA-waived and can be used in any setting with a CLIA certificate (e.g., medical office, long-term care facility).
• WHO calls for moratorium on COVID-19 boosters - Amid a global COVID-19 surge fueled by the highly transmissible Delta (B.1.617.2) variant, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a moratorium on booster vaccine doses to allow the global supply to fill gaps in lower-income countries. For immunocompromised people, WHO has clarified that an additional dose for these people might be needed as part of their initial vaccine series to achieve protection.

• Canceled- Vaccine Unit Pharmacy Office Hours: August sessions have been canceled due to Dr. Fauci Webinar and Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA) annual convention on August 13–14
• For questions about VaxMaX and its functionality, please visit the VaxMaX Help website, which includes reference guides and tutorial videos.

• We appreciate you providing copies of COVID-19 vaccination records to your  patients/customers at the time of vaccination, if you are unable to provide these records please refer people to 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682) or vaccinate.virginia.gov or  or VDH’s COVID-19 Vaccination Record Request Portal.
• Check out our complete list of COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Best Practices and our Lightning Learnings: Best Practices for Busy Providers!

Upcoming Events

• COCA Call: Therapeutic Options to Prevent Severe COVID-19 in Immunocompromised People - The FDA has issued EUAs for monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 for certain patients. Monoclonal antibodies may be available through expanded access programs to treat COVID-19 for immunocompromised patients. However, the efficacy of use for immunocompromised patients is unclear. During this COCA Call, presenters will discuss the FDA’s role in issuing EUAs for certain monoclonal antibodies, options for compassionate use, the process for ordering and distributing monoclonal antibodies, and current data on using monoclonal antibodies for both non-hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. Presenters will also cover preventing, diagnosing, and treating COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, including the role of monoclonal antibodies, serologic testing, and potential third dose of COVID-19 vaccinations. Participant Information:
  • Date: August 12, 2021 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm
  • Dial-In: (646) 828-7666 (Audio only)
  • Conference ID: 161 225 4638
  • Passcode: 980771
  • Access Link: Click Here 

• CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting - Topics include updates on additional vaccine doses in immunocompromised individuals and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Date: August 13, 11 am - 2 pm
  • Refer to ACIP website for additional meeting details

• "Vaccination from the Misinformation Virus" documentary airs on PBS stations, featuring an Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) expert.
  • The one-hour documentary, “Vaccination from the Misinformation Virus,” is a comprehensive media campaign to help parents and community leaders understand that vaccines are safe, important to community health, and save millions of lives every year. The program includes infectious disease experts, epidemiologists, pharmacists, physicians, and various academics with expertise in misinformation as well as health disparities. IAC's John Grabenstein, RPh, PhD, is featured as an expert in the film.
  • This program is now available online, along with the script, viewer guide, and media resources to share in educational, clinical, and social media settings.
• CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
  • Promoting vaccination among teachers, staff, families, and eligible students.
  • Universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Implementation of layered prevention strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools, including maintaining at least 3 feet of distance between students within classrooms in combination with universal masking; screening testing to promptly identify cases, clusters, and outbreaks; handwashing and respiratory etiquette; cleaning and disinfection; and contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine.
• CDC recently published a new webpage: Delta Variant: What We Know About the Science.
• Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — COVID-NET, 13 States, February–April 2021. Among adults aged 65–74 years, effectiveness of full vaccination for preventing hospitalization was 96% for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% for Moderna, and 84% for Janssen COVID-19 vaccines; among adults aged ≥75 years, effectiveness of full vaccination for preventing hospitalization was 91% for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% for Moderna, and 85% for Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. Efforts to increase vaccination coverage are critical to reducing the risk for COVID-19–related hospitalization, particularly in older adults
• CDC’s Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People — This guidance includes updated information for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States. Additional updates include:
  • Fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.
  • Fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
  • Information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.
  • CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

• VDH updated Vaccination FAQs, the Masks webpage and the Travelers webpage to align with CDC recommendations for fully vaccinated people. VDH continues to update other materials as quickly as possible.