CDC

• Updated: COVID-19 Pandemic Response, Laboratory Data Reporting: CARES Act Section 18115 - New laboratory reporting guidance from HHS and CDC goes into effect on April 4, 2022. The new guidance still requires reporting of all NAAT test results (both positive and negative) and all positive test results except for home tests and antibody tests. The guidance will no longer require the reporting of negative non-NAAT test results (e.g., rapid or antigen test results) and positive or negative antibody test results.

• The shelf life for Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been updated from 6 months to 9 months.
  • This shelf life extension applies to all inventory dated to expire on March 7, 2022 or later.  Vaccine dated prior to March 7, 2022 should be disposed of according to state and local regulation and reported as waste according to your COVID-19 provider agreement.
  • Vaccine providers should visit the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Expiry Checker webpage to confirm the expiration dates.
• “Opt Out of Kits" feature is now available in VaxMax. If you do not want to receive kits for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (J&J), simply check the "Opt Out of Admin Kits" box for Moderna or J&J when you submit your vaccine request form and the kits will be removed from your order.
• For questions about VaxMaX and its functionality, please visit the VaxMaX Help website, which includes reference guides and tutorial videos.

• Check out our complete list of COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Best Practices and our Lightning Learnings: Best Practices for Busy Providers!

Upcoming Events

• On Wednesday, March 30 at 12 PM, VDH's Healthcare-Associated Infections & Antimicrobial Resistance Program will host an infection prevention lunch and learn about Healthcare-Associated Infections Reporting and the National Healthcare Safety Network. To register, see the registration link. Questions on this topic are welcome before the webinar -- please email them to hai@vdh.virginia.gov.

CDC

• For those who are planning to vaccinate children under 5, these two trainings may help prepare your staff to confidently vaccinate those in this age group:
  • Intramuscular (IM) Injection: Sites
  • Intramuscular (IM) Injection: Supplies (Children Birth Through 18 Years of Age)
• Self-Testing At Home or Anywhere - This webpage provides helpful information for the public about self tests including  when to use a self test (i.e., if symptomatic, following an exposure, prior to an indoor event or gathering), where to get the tests, and what results mean.
• Updated: Mask Use on Public Transportation - After CDC’s recommendation,  the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for one month, through April 18. During the extension, CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor. This revised framework will be based on COVID-19 community levels, the risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. Any updates will be communicated publicly if and/or when they change.The security directive was set to expire on March 18.

VDH

• Updated: On the Child Care & Day Camps website, under Resources from the Virginia Department of Health, revised guidance has been posted: VDH COVID-19 Interim Guidance for Child Care Facility Collaboration with the Local Health Department.
  • Revisions included the following:
• Added that child care providers should refer to CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels that provide levels by county.
• Stated that universal case investigation and contact tracing are no longer recommended and added that more broad-based communication about a case or potential exposure might be needed because of this.
• Added language about the DOLI Standard while it is in effect; added that if the Standard is revoked in the future, the Board of Health requirements for reporting to the local health department should be followed.
• Clarified the language about quarantine recommendations for children under 2 years who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. These children do not need to quarantine.
• Added a new section called Test to Stay Alternative to Quarantine. This is a new alternative that facilities may consider for individuals aged 2 years and older who meet certain criteria.
• (UPDATED)  For the What to do if you were potentially exposed to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) website, General FAQs, and Vaccination FAQs,
  • VDH is now referring the general public to CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels, which provide levels by county. These pages were updated to reflect this decision.