VACCINE NEWS
Who is Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised?
In making this determination, healthcare and vaccine providers may find it useful to refer to this guidance from CDC. In addition to detailing exactly who CDC considers moderately to severely immunocompromised, the resource also provides tips on discussing additional doses with eligible patients.
CDC Updates Guidance on Co-administration of COVID-19 Vaccines, Flu shots, and Other Injection Scenarios
This information is available here and states that the COVID-19 vaccine can now be administered at the same time as other vaccines, including flu vaccines. There is no need to delay the previously-recommended 14 days before and after administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. CDC notes, however, that when simultaneously administering vaccines on the same day, vaccine injection sites should be at least one inch apart and providers may wish to consider administering vaccines in different limbs. Guidance on co-administration of the COVID-19 vaccine with TB tests (tuberculin skin test or an interferon release assay) has not changed. TB tests may be administered prior to or at the same time as COVID-19 vaccination; however, if COVID-19 vaccination has already taken place, TB testing should be delayed until 4 or more weeks after completion of COVID-19 vaccination. This information is available here.
FEDERAL NEWS
Marshall Among Senators Who Implore HHS to Release the Remaining Provider Relief Funds (PRF)
43 Senators sent a bipartisan letter to HHS Secretary Becerra Aug. 26th saying, “As the health care provider community continues to respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic, this funding should be released without any further delay.” They said they wanted an immediate update on how the remaining funds would be distributed. LeadingAge strongly encouraged Senators to sign on to this letter led by Sens. Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen. Regrettably, this is at least the 3rd or 4th letter from members of Congress directed at HHS regarding the need for the remaining PRF to get into the hands of providers who are still battling the COVID-19 virus and suffering financial losses and additional expenses because of those efforts. Let’s hope this finally gets them to act.
On a related note, it has been reported that HHS has hired outside firms to audit the PRF reports that will be coming in (first PRF report is due Sept. 30) explaining how providers used the PRF funds. This process appears similar to how HHS approached the Phase 3 applications where some of them went through a more detailed financial review. This action was likely also taken to respond to pressure from Congress and other governmental oversight agencies for HHS to account for how these dollars were used following much criticism about how the first few rounds of funds were distributed early in the pandemic.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
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LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
Pandemic Playbook Includes New Resources on Rethinking the Future
An important update to the LeadingAge Pandemic Playbook is now in place. “Reopen, Recover, Reimagine: Moving Forward Together” is the newly renamed and expanded chapter 9, focused not only on the present of the pandemic but also the future of member organizations. The chapter includes new resources on rebuilding occupancy and returning to stability, along with how providers are rethinking fundamental assumptions about how to serve older adults.
RESOURCES
Strategies for Increasing Adult Vaccination Rates
The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) issued a call to action to increase vaccination coverage among U.S. adults. The NAIIS is co-led by CDC, HHS’ Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, and the Immunization Action Coalition. The call to action highlights the tremendous benefits of adult vaccines, however low levels of vaccination, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing disparities in U.S. adult vaccination rates, continue. The document lists a series of concrete actions healthcare providers can take to improve adult vaccination and improve the health of adults.
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