COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions
- Be aware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP’s) decision to strongly recommend a single Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for people 12–17 years old at least 5 months after their primary series. This expands the age of booster access and strengthens the existing policy for booster doses in people 16–17 years old.
- Offer COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 12 years or older least:
- 5 months after completing Pfizer primary vaccine series.
- 6 months after completing Moderna primary vaccine series.
- 2 months after single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
- Offer a third, additional dose of Pfizer (5 years or older) or Moderna (18 years or older) COVID-19 vaccine to people with compromised immune systems 28 days after receiving their second dose.
- Be aware, a high volume of people are going to local emergency departments seeking COVID-19 testing, increasing the burden on our hospital system. Direct people to the many COVID-19 testing sites available.
- Be aware, CDC updated and refined its language on guidance for quarantine and isolation.
- These new recommendations do not apply to healthcare staff. Follow previously established guidance.
- When staffing is critically short, follow Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH’s) recommendations to mitigate healthcare worker staffing shortage.
COVID-19 vaccine
- Booster dose updates, Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Emergency use authorization (EUA) fact sheets for recipients and caregivers:
- COVID-19 vaccine locator, DOH.
- COVID-19 vaccine provider toolkit and resources, DOH.
- COVID-19 vaccination for providers, CDC.
- Clinical considerations for COVID-19 vaccination and guidance for managing anaphylaxis, CDC.
- COVID-19 vaccine quick reference guide for healthcare professionals, CDC.
- COVID-19 vaccine training module on best practices for providers, CDC.
COVID-19 testing
COVID-19 therapeutics
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocates monoclonal antibody and oral antiviral supplies to each state. DOH distributes doses to enrolled providers. Providers must enroll in Healthcare Partner Ordering Portal (HPoP) to manage COVID-19 therapeutics. Email mcm@doh.wa.gov to register for HPoP training, held Tuesdays at 9 a.m.
- To request an initial supply of Evusheld monoclonal antibody for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), complete a smart sheet.
- Read more about Evusheld monoclonal antibody for PrEP.
- Find more resources in the COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapeutics communication toolkit.
COVID-19 prevention patient education
Share the following materials with patients.
- What to do if you have COVID-19.
- What to do if you may have been exposed to COVID-19.
- What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms and have not been tested or exposed.
Immediately report COVID-19
We ask that you notify us of patients being tested who are hospitalized or have contact with a confirmed case, and not wait for the lab confirmation. Fax the COVID-19 Report Form to 360-778-6103. You can leave us a non-urgent confidential report on our 24-hour Communicable Disease Report Line, 360-778-6150.Contacting the Health Department
Contact Whatcom County Health and Community Services at 360-778-6100- 360-778-6100 Main Call Line – available M-F 8:30am to 4:30pm.
- Afterhours Answering Service – available after 4:30pm and weekends, call 360-778-6100 and press 2 to be connected to the on-call manager or health officer.
- 360-778-6150 Communicable Disease Report Line – 24 hours a day 7 days a week
- 360-778-6103 Confidential Communicable Disease Fax – 24 hours a day 7 days a week
- 509 Girard Street, Bellingham WA 98225