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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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8/26/21 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Infection Control, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesWCHD Health Alert PROVIDER ALERT – COVID-19 Update August 26th, 2021 Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease & Epidemiology Division Requested Actions Be aware, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 years and older. Pfizer-BioNTech will be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee). Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine continues to be available to people 12-15…
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08/18/21- WCHD Health Advisory COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Third dose of Pfizer/Moderna for immunocompromised individuals Be aware, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended its emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow an additional (third) dose for certain immunocompromised people. Be aware, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) authorized an additional (third) dose of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines under…
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8/19/21-WCHD Provider Alert COVID-19 Testing Updates
Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and AlertsRequested Actions Be Aware COVID-19 testing at the Bellingham Airport site (as well as the Northwest Laboratory drive-thru testing at their main laboratory) is by appointment only. When people arrive without an appointment to test, they must be turned away. Be aware testing for travel is not billed to insurance and the laboratory fee for travel…
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Provider Alert: Pop-up Clinics for Week of August 8th 2021
Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Provider ResourcesTuesday, August 17 5:30-6:30pm PeaceHealth Cordata PeaceHealth Pfizer Though appointments are recommended at the Cordata vaccine clinic, walk-ins are welcome. Schedule an online appointment through PeaceHealth’s COVID-19 hotline number: 833-375-0285. 4545 Cordata Pkwy, Bellingham Tuesday, August 17 9am-noon East Whatcom regional resource center MTI Pfizer, Moderna, J&J 8251 Kendall Rd, Maple Falls Friday, August…
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Provider Alert: DOH Delayed in processing reports from Clinical Laboratories
Action requested:• Be aware of a delay since Tuesday 7/27/21 of DOH processing reports from clinical laboratories and routing these to local health departments.• Call the WCHD 24-hour Communicable Disease Report Line (360-778-6150) to notify the health department of new COVID-19 and other reportable conditions this weekend.• Local laboratories should call the CD report line…
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7/26/21 Health Advisory: Increased Syphilis Transmission Among Heterosexuals
Requested actions Be aware syphilis transmission is increasing among heterosexuals. Test all pregnant women for syphilis at their first prenatal visit. At 24-28 weeks gestation (early third trimester), re-evaluate for risk factors and test again for syphilis if any exist. Test the following people when they present for care (including at emergency departments): Sexually active…
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COVID-19 provider alert regarding unaddressed behavioral health conditions for healthcare and public health workforce
Actions Requested Engage in a PsySTART-Responder assessment if struggling with feeling trapped within a job, despair from being overextended, or emotionally overwhelmed. See Recommendations section for more information. Practice resilience to reduce compassion fatigue,a burnout,b emotional exhaustion, depersonalization,c and stress. See Recommendations section for more information. Background Research shows that healthcare and public health workers…
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7/19/21 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) fact sheets to include possible risks of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following vaccination: Fact sheet for healthcare providers. Fact sheet for patients. Be aware the FDA extended the shelf life of J&J…
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7/5/21 – Health Advisory: Melioidosis Cases Not Associated with Travel Outside the United States & COVID-19 Update for Providers
COVID-19, Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware of 3 cases of melioidosis in the United States that are not associated with travel outside the United States that appear related based on genomic analysis. Consider melioidosis in patients with a compatible illness even if they have not traveled to an endemic country. If you suspect or confirm Burkholderia pseudomallei in…
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6/18/21- Potential Myocarditis and/or Pericarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccinations Remain Rare
On 5/26/21, we sent a health alert about potential myocarditis and/or pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations. These events remain rare and COVID-19 vaccination continues to be recommended as an overall safe and effective measure to protect individuals and prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2, including the current circulating variants. DOH has provided an update on the status of their work…
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6/7/21 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Requested actions Be aware of local and national reports of myocarditis and pericarditis among people who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within the last 2 weeks. Promptly report cases to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. Vaccinate everyone 12 years or older against COVID-19. Build trust in COVID-19 vaccines. Review all patients’ vaccination…
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5/26/2021- Myocarditis or pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state health agencies are aware of reports of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination. To ensure all possible cases are identified, DOH is requesting that health care providers: Consider a diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis in any evaluation…