FEDERAL NEWS 

NHSN Updates 
The therapeutics pathway in NHSN will be updated to reflect available (FDA-approved) therapeutics. Associated forms, instructions, CSV templates, etc. will also be updated. Updates are scheduled for January 11, 2022. Reporting procedures are unchanged. NHSN users were notified of these changes by email on January 10, 2022. 

FDA Shortens Interval for Booster Dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to Five Months  
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to shorten the time between the completion of a primary series of the vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months for individuals 18 years of age and older. Read the CDC Media Statement here. 

COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review  
On Friday, CDC released their weekly review from the COVID Data Tracker. COVID-19 cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States. This surge is driven by the Omicron variant, which CDC’s Nowcast model projects may account for approximately 95% of cases. On January 5th, 705,264 new cases were reported, more than doubling the January 2021 peak. The entire country is now experiencing high levels of community transmission. Hospitalizations are also on the rise. While early data suggest Omicron infections might be less severe than those of other variants, the increases in cases and hospitalizations are expected to stress the healthcare system in the coming weeks. 

VACCINATION NEWS 

 
Kansas COVID-19 Vaccination Overview       

  • 3,970,980 Total Doses Reported as Administered       
    – First Dose: 1,876,876 
    – Second Dose: 1,501,195 
    – Third Dose: 592,910 
  • 5,048,240 Total Doses Distributed       
    – State Distributed: 2,867,300 
  • 60.1% of Kansans Vaccinated with One Dose     
  • 51.8% of Kansas Completed COVID-19 Vaccine Series  

Source: https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data    

LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS 

Weekly Webinars are Officially Back  
Join us this Friday for more up-to-date information and a rundown of the first week of the 2022 Legislative Session. Weekly Webinars are on Fridays at 10 AM. Register for 2022 here

LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS 

Making Sense of CDC Recommendations: Interview with Dr. Nimalie Stone   
Here is an article about our interview on Monday’s Update Call with Dr. Nimalie Stone, Senior Advisor for Long-Term Care Partnerships, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Nimalie emphasized that nursing homes should be looking at the recommendations related to healthcare providers, rather than the general public.  The healthcare guidance is more conservative, she noted, because the population healthcare workers care for is more vulnerable than the general public.  She also advised that other providers (who do not offer nursing home services) should use their judgment about whether or not to use the healthcare recommendations.  She further described some of the workforce staffing mitigations provided by CDC to address workforce shortages. 

THANK YOU TO OUR GOLD PARTNER 

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Nicole Schings is the Director of Member Services and Business Development. Nicole joined the association in 2018, and oversees our Member Services program, our Partnership and Associate Member relationships, and our online education system. A graduate of Washburn University, Nicole uses her 22 years of experience in the association world to enhance the support of our members, problem solve their issues and bring new partners into the LeadingAge Kansas family. Outside of work, Nicole is passionate about geocaching and moments spent with her dog, Blu. You can reach Nicole directly at 785.670.8048.