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West Coast Health Alliance, WA DOH, and Leading National Medical Organizations Continue to Recommend Hepatitis B Vaccination for Newborns
WCHA disagrees with CDC’s Advisory Committee’s change to decades-long vaccine recommendation that has reduced pediatric hepatitis B infections by 99 percent. The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) strongly supports that hepatitis B vaccination continue to be routinely offered to all newborns, with the first dose of the vaccine given within 24 hours of birth for…
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5/13/2021 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Build trust in COVID-19 vaccine. Recommend all patients 12 years or older get vaccinated. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine now authorized for people 12 years or older. Providers can now give COVID-19 vaccine simultaneous with or within any number of days of other vaccines. Providers no longer need to use 95% of their COVID-19 vaccine within…
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4/26/21 – Health Advisory: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Providers
Requested actions Be aware, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine is again authorized for use in people 18 years or older in Washington starting April 24. Discard any J&J Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheets you have on hand. Use the new J&J EUA Fact Sheet. Monitor and properly treat patients who develop signs and symptoms of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS)—severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath—within 3 weeks…
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4/14/21 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Immediately pause administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Six people reported severe blood clots after getting Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Offer patients Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Continue to store Johnson & Johnson vaccine and await further instructions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are reviewing these cases…
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3/29/2021-WCHD Health Alert – SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing – criteria and specimen submission
Overview The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has increased whole genome sequencing capacity to track SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and other emerging variants. DOH is working toward sequencing a geographically representative sample representing at least 5% of positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests in Washington State. DOH has additional capacity to sequence individual specimens to investigate…
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3/22/2021 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware Washington State Department of Health (DOH) opened Phase 1B Tier 2 on March 17. DOH updated its Phase 1B guidance and released an expected timeline for moving into future tiers. Encourage people eligible in Phase 1A and Phase 1B Tiers 1 and 2 to get vaccinated. Direct patients to vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov to find vaccine providers near them, and to our COVID-19…
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3/10/2021: Health Advisory – COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved emergency use authorization (EUA) for single-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 27. Be aware Washington State Department of Health (DOH) added preK-12 educators, school staff and childcare workers to vaccine eligibility Phase 1B Tier 1 and released an expected timeline for moving into future…
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3/4/2021 Provider alert anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and increase of fentanyl overdose
Actions Requested Support clients and patients who are experiencing despair or hopelessness, apathy or anger, and grief and loss. See the Supporting Clients and Patients section and resources for providers for more information. Share information and resources with clients, patients, and their families on building resilience, support strategies, mental and emotional well-being, and crisis support.…
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2/6/21 Health Advisory: Syphilis Rising Among Heterosexuals
Requested actions Familiarize yourself with all stages of syphilis to recognize symptoms. Test for syphilis: Pregnant women at their first prenatal visit and again at 24-28 weeks gestation. Pregnant women who present late to care, wherever they present for care. Also test for HIV, HBsAg and STIs. Sexually active people who live homeless, exchange money or drugs…
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1/26/21 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Be aware, on Jan. 18, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to Phase 1B Tier 1. DOH will expand eligibility to Tier 2 when at least 50% of people in Tier 1 have received their first dose. Notify all patients 65 years or older they are eligible for vaccine. Be…
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1/12/20 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware, all people in COVID-19 vaccine Phase 1A—people who work in healthcare settings, people who live or work in long-term care, and first responders in emergency medical services—are eligible to receive vaccine. If you need help vaccinating eligible staff, contact the health department. Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the governor’s…
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Tdap and Pregnancy Information for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Alert, Immunization, Notifiable Conditions, Pertussis, Provider ResourcesPertussis is a serious disease for young infants. Pertussis epidemics occur in the United States every 3–5 years. Even though we have a vaccine, pertussis is a common infectious disease. There are 10,000–40,000 cases per year and 10–20 deaths.1 In 2013, there were more than 28,000 cases in the United States. Pertussis is most serious in…
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12/28/20 Provider Advisory: Proclamations 20-05 and 20-24 prohibit certain medical and dental procedures unless specific procedures and criteria are met
Notice: This document replaces the WCHD Health Alert of the same name that was posted 12/24/20. Requested Actions Be aware, Governor Inslee extended proclamations 20-05 and 20-24 prohibiting certain medical and dental procedures unless certain specific procedures and criteria are met. All Western Washington healthcare facilities should operate in a contingency care phase—provide appropriate clinical care so…