Provider Resources WA

06/24/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children as Young as 6 Months

| June 22, 2022
Two babies in pool using pool floats

Be aware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup concluded COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children as young as 6 months. Available to children 6 months to 4 years old: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, in a 3-dose primary series. Be sure to review dosage and vial labeling … 06/24/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children as Young as 6 Months

06/14/22 Health Advisory: Routine childhood immunization rates down

| June 9, 2022
Individual with stethoscope and young child on exam table

Background On May 12, 2022, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced many children are behind on routine vaccinations compared to pre-pandemic levels. The report found, from June 2019 to December 2021, immunization rates dropped: ↓ 9.6% in children 19–35 months old ↓ 3.9% in children 4–6 years old ↓ 3.6% in children 11–12 years … 06/14/22 Health Advisory: Routine childhood immunization rates down

05/24/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment

| May 24, 2022
close up of a line of prescription pill bottles

Requested actions Be aware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory about COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment. Continue to offer Paxlovid for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in people at high risk of severe disease. Be aware, providers have reported COVID-19 rebound—recurring symptoms or a new positive test after … 05/24/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment

05/24/22 Health Advisory: Monkeypox virus in non-endemic countries

| May 24, 2022
test tubes being analyzed in a lab

Requested actions Be aware, monkeypox virus infections are occurring in non-endemic countries, including 1 case in the United States. Assess for alternative etiologies in conditions causing pox-like lesions—herpes simplex, syphilis, varicella, etc. Report suspected or confirmed monkeypox cases to the Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD). Call 360-778-6150. WCHD will coordinate testing at the public health … 05/24/22 Health Advisory: Monkeypox virus in non-endemic countries

05/20/22 Health Advisory: CDC Recommends 5-11 year olds get a Pfizer COVID-19 Booster

| May 20, 2022
three kids looking down at camera

Requested actions Be aware, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recommend children 5-11 years should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose five months after completion of the primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This recommendation comes after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its emergency use … 05/20/22 Health Advisory: CDC Recommends 5-11 year olds get a Pfizer COVID-19 Booster

05/19/22 Health Advisory: Severe Hepatitis of Unknown Cause in Children

| May 19, 2022
3 pairs of hands with paint on them

Actions Requested Be aware of severe cases of hepatitis in children that are occurring in the U.S. and worldwide. Consider adenovirus testing in pediatric patients with hepatitis of unknown cause (see preferred samples below). Report suspect cases in children to Whatcom County Health Department. A suspect case is a child with elevated AST or ALT … 05/19/22 Health Advisory: Severe Hepatitis of Unknown Cause in Children

05/16/22 Health Advisory: FDA Limits Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine.

| May 16, 2022
Syringe drawing from a vial

Requested actions Be aware, on May 5, 2022, because of the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after getting Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (J&J), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limited its authorized use to people 18 years or older: For whom other COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate. Who want only … 05/16/22 Health Advisory: FDA Limits Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine.

05/12/22 Health Advisory: FDA Limits Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine.

| May 12, 2022
Syringe in vial

Requested actions Background FDA limited the authorized use of J&J to people age 18 years and older: This decision came after FDA analyzed, evaluated and investigated reported cases of TTS after getting J&J. TTS is rare and includes potentially life-threatening blood clots in combination with low levels of blood platelets. Symptoms typically start 1–2 weeks … 05/12/22 Health Advisory: FDA Limits Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine.

05/05/22 Health Advisory: Colorado person first U.S. case of H5 bird flu

| May 5, 2022

A person in Colorado tested positive for avian influenza A(H5N1) virus (H5 bird flu), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported April 28, 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed it is the first U.S. case of H5 bird flu. The person was involved in the culling of poultry with presumptive H5 … 05/05/22 Health Advisory: Colorado person first U.S. case of H5 bird flu

04/27/22 Health Advisory: CDC Treatment Updates and ACIP discusses eligibility for second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine

| April 27, 2022
hands in blue medical gloves holding a syringe and drawing from a vile

Requested actions Be aware, on April 25, 2022, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory about the availability and use of recommended COVID-19 therapies. It also advised against using unproven treatments that have known or potential harm. Follow National Institutes of Health (NIH) COVID-19 treatment guidelines and use … 04/27/22 Health Advisory: CDC Treatment Updates and ACIP discusses eligibility for second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine