CDC

• (New) CDC Recommends Novavax for adolescents.
  • On August 22, 2022, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky signed a decision memo that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine be used as a primary series option for adolescents 12 through 17 years of age.
  • This recommendation follows FDA’s decision to grant emergency use authorization  for the vaccine in this age group. (FDA Updated Fact Sheet here.)
  • Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is available now, is an important tool in the pandemic and provides a more familiar type of COVID-19 vaccine technology.
  • Having multiple types of vaccines offers more options and flexibility for the public, jurisdictions, and vaccine providers.

• (New) CDC streamlines COVID-19 guidance to help the public better protect themselves and understand their risk.
  • On August 11, 2022, CDC updated its quarantine and isolation guidance.
  • Guidance for people who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and are exposed to someone with COVID-19 is now consistent with existing guidance for people who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
  • For people who were exposed to COVID-19, CDC now recommends that they wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on Day 5. Quarantine is no longer recommended.
  • Screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.
  • Physical distance is just one component of how to protect yourself and others. It is important to consider the risk in a particular setting, including local COVID-19 Community Levels and the important role of ventilation, when assessing the need to maintain physical distance.
  • Note: VDH is in the process of reviewing this guidance to determine if it will be adopted in Virginia.

• (Update) CDC web pages updated based on guidance above:
  • COVID-19 Testing Overview
  • Symptoms of Coronavirus
  • Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning
  • What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19
  • Factors That Affect Your Risk of Getting Very Sick from COVID-19
  • Understanding Exposure Risks
  • Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19

FDA:

• (Update) At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Tests-Take Steps to Reduce Your Risk of False Negative Results- FDA Safety Communication - the FDA issued a safety communication advising people to perform repeat, or serial, testing following a negative result on any at-home COVID-19 antigen test. If repeat testing is not performed after a negative result, an infection may be missed and people may unknowingly spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others, especially if they are not experiencing symptoms. COVID-19 diagnostic testing remains a cornerstone of our nation’s fight against COVID-19. While not perfect, at-home COVID-19 antigen tests provide a fast, convenient, and inexpensive COVID-19 testing option.
• Free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests can be ordered from the federal government at www.covid.gov/tests.
• (New) FDA authorizes the emergency use of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted for individuals 12 through 17 years of age.
  • On August 19, 2022, FDA authorized the emergency use of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 12 through 17 years of age.
  • This authorization follows a rigorous analysis and evaluation of the safety and effectiveness data conducted by the FDA.
  • The agency previously authorized the vaccine for individuals 18 years and older.
  • Additional information is available on the FDA website

VDH

• COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order and Summary of Legal Authorities has been updated

• • Vaccine Standing order
  • Summary of Legal Authorities for Pharmacists to Administer

• (New) Monkeypox

• • The website for monkeypox has been migrated to a new page with improved design and navigation.  At this time, the content has not been changed, but expect  more updates to come in the next few weeks. Note: If you bookmarked the previous monkeypox page, it will redirect you to the new webpage. Please share the new page in your communications materials. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/monkeypox/
    • Training resources
      • VDH:https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-preparedness/emergency-preparedness/monkeypox-smallpox-vaccination/
      • CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/clinicians/vaccination.html

• (New) Polio

• • • A case of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) was identified in late July in an unvaccinated individual in Rockland County, NY. Enhanced surveillance and detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples from Rockland and Orange Counties provided evidence of community transmission. Based on evidence from earlier polio outbreaks, health officials estimate that for every one case of paralytic polio observed, there may be hundreds of other people infected. The occurrence of this case, combined with the identification of poliovirus in wastewater, underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent paralytic polio in persons of all ages.
    • Providers should remain vigilant for polio, and continue to encourage on-time routine administration of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Providers should carefully assess any patient exhibiting unexplained acute flaccid weakness, including determining vaccination status and travel history. Polio may also present similarly to acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), which is expected to peak in late summer and early fall.
    • Polio is a serious and life-threatening disease. Spread from person-to-person, polio is very contagious, and an individual can transmit the virus even if they aren't sick. Those unvaccinated against poliovirus are most at-risk. Childhood vaccination schedules, which includes vaccination against polio, may have been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, making children particularly vulnerable.  Parents who are uncertain about their child’s polio vaccination history should check with their child’s pediatrician, family physician, or medical provider.
    • Adults who have completed a routine series of poliovirus vaccine are considered to have lifelong immunity to poliomyelitis, but data on duration of immunity are lacking. As a precaution, adults 18 years of age or older who are traveling to areas where wild poliovirus or VDPV is actively circulating and who have received a routine series with either IPV or oral polio vaccine (OPV) in childhood should receive another dose of IPV before departure.
    • For adults, currently available data does not indicate the need for more than a single lifetime booster dose with IPV. Note: The World Health Organization recommends that countries affected by wild poliovirus or VDPV outbreaks require residents and long-term visitors (4 weeks or more) to show proof of polio vaccination before leaving the country. These recommendations are regularly reviewed and updated. Visit CDC's Travelers' Health site for current details about country-specific requirements (www.cdc.gov/travel/).
    • Public Health Response to a Case of Paralytic Poliomyelitis in an Unvaccinated Person and Detection of Poliovirus in Wastewater — New York, June–August 2022 | MMWR
    • Polio Elimination in the United States

• Beginning Thursday, August 18th, 2022, Moderna – Spikevax will be available to request in VaXMaX. Orders submitted before Monday, August 22 at 7:00 PM will be delivered Friday, August 26 or Monday, August 29.
  • CDC - Spikevax Information
  • FDA - Spikevax Information

• For questions about VaxMaX and its functionality, please visit the VaxMaX Help website, which includes reference guides and tutorial videos.

• For questions about VaxMaX and its functionality, please visit the VaxMaX Help website, which includes reference guides and tutorial videos.

Not aware of new announcements

Please refer to previous editions.