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Healthcare Professionals Newsletter |
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Now is the Time to Remind Parents About Back-To-School Vaccines
For children, summertime means camp, vacations, cookouts, and fun! But for parents, summertime is also a great time to make sure that their children are up to date on vaccinations, have had their yearly checkups, and have all the paperwork necessary for a smooth start to the coming school year.
We encourage you to take some time to remind your patients to schedule their yearly checkups and make sure they have all the immunization records necessary for school, childcare, and sports. If possible, try to allow for immunization-only appointments for children who need their vaccines the first week of school in your community.
VDH’s communications hub offers several resources for healthcare providers, from packaged social media content to printable flyers and infographics. Feel free to browse our communications site and check out the materials available there. Additionally, VDH’s back-to-school website is a great one-stop shop to share with parents and caregivers to help them find out which immunizations and healthcare services their children may need for school and sports.
We wish you a happy summer and a healthy back to school!
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Emerging Public Health Issues
Tickborne Disease Babesiosis Increases in Eastern Region
Babesiosis is an emerging tickborne illness in Virginia, and VDH is seeing an increase in cases reported annually. Unlike most tickborne illnesses, it is caused by a protozoan, and treatment requires both an antiparasitic drug and an antibiotic. Illness can present with flu-like symptoms and can include fever, chills, sweats, and body aches. Organ failure can occur in severe cases. Patients often present with hemolytic anemia. Symptoms may appear up to eight weeks after the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, and if left untreated, symptoms may persist from weeks to months. This disease can also be acquired via a contaminated blood transfusion or transmission from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery. While babesiosis is now found in most regions of Virginia, most cases are attributed to the Eastern Shore region.
If a babesiosis infection is suspected in a patient, a blood specimen should be collected and tested using the appropriate laboratory tests outlined by the CDC's Babesiosis Case Definition. Another helpful resource is CDC's Babesiosis - Resources for Health Professionals, which contains additional information concerning diagnosis and treatment.
FDA Approves First Drug to Protect Infants from RSV
On July 17, the FDA approved a monoclonal antibody for the prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in newborns and infants born or entering their first RSV season and in children up to the age of 24 months who remain vulnerable to RSV through their second RSV season. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is meeting on Thursday, August 3, to discuss and vote on clinical considerations for the new drug.
Increase in Cases of Congenital Syphilis in 2022
New cases of early syphilis increased more than 20% in the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2022, with the rate of new infections among women of reproductive age outpacing other groups. You can help identify and halt the transmission of syphilis by following four simple steps outlined in the clinician letter on the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website.
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COVID-19 Updates
Vaccine
CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Reminders
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Must administer COVID-19 Vaccine at 100% no out-of-pocket cost to the recipient and cannot charge vaccine recipients for the vaccine or any administration fees, copays, or coinsurance
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May not deny anyone vaccination based on the vaccine recipient’s coverage status (no coverage or underinsured), or network status (in network and out of network)
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May not charge an office visit or other fee if COVID-19 vaccination is the sole medical service provided
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May not require additional medical services to receive COVID-19 vaccination
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May seek appropriate reimbursement from a program or plan that covers COVID-19 Vaccine administration fees for the vaccine recipient, such as:
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vaccine recipient’s private insurance company
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Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement
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May not seek any reimbursement, including through balance billing, from the vaccine recipient
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Cannot deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network
The CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program is preparing for the transition of COVID-19 vaccines to the commercial market. This will allow for more traditional pathways for procurement, distribution, and payment. The transition will occur in the Fall of 2023, tentatively mid-to-late September. Please see Commercialization of COVID-19 Medical Countermeasures FAQs for more information
As a final reminder, the Federal Government requires all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to be reported to the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) within 24 hours of administration. Further, Virginia law, section 32.1-46.01, requires that all providers who administer vaccines report to VIIS.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Therapeutics
NIH Launches Clinical Trials on Long COVID Treatments
On July 31, the National Institute of Health (NIH) announced it has launched clinical trials that will evaluate 4 potential treatments for long COVID through the RECOVER Initiative. More clinical trials that will look at biologics, medical devices, and other therapies are expected in the coming months. Enrollment for the clinical trials is open to people aged 18 years and older.
Accurate Expiration Dates for Paxlovid and Lagevrio
It’s important to note that both Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir) have had extensions of their original expiration dates. As a result, the expiration date printed on packages of both medications are NOT likely to be accurate. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has a website (COVID-19 Therapeutic Product Expiration Dates) that shows the current expiration date for Lagevrio by package lot number. For Paxlovid, the drug’s manufacturer has its own website where the package lot number is entered and the current expiration date will be displayed.
Stay Up to Date on COVID-19
Did you know that VDH’s COVID-19 Health Professionals Webpage is updated regularly with COVID-19 hot topics that relevant to health professionals and their responses to COVID-19? This page provides the latest updates on vaccination, treatment, testing, and other COVID-19 topics, along with quick access to the most essential guidance and resources.
COVID-19 Therapeutic Resources
Mpox Updates
Incorporating Mpox into Routine Care
We need your help to end mpox. The ultimate goal is to stop person-to-person mpox transmission in the U.S and end any further transmission. This goal seems possible especially since there has not been evidence of an animal reservoir in this current outbreak. Mpox screening, prevention, and treatment should be incorporated into routine sexual health and HIV services to ensure all patients are screened for mpox, assessed for risk factors, counseled on prevention measures, and evaluated for vaccination, testing and/or treatment, if indicated.
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 Other Resources and Updates
Flu Sentinel Surveillance Program
VDH is currently recruiting providers to participate in the Influenza (flu) Sentinel Surveillance program for this upcoming 2023-24 flu season. Flu Sentinel Surveillance aims to monitor seasonal trends to assess flu burden in Virginia, monitor novel strains within the state, and provide data for future vaccine formulation decisions. Sentinel surveillance providers participate by voluntarily collecting specimens from patients who have influenza-like illness (ILI). These specimens are sent to the state public health lab, the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), for further testing and subtyping.
The Flu Sentinel Surveillance Program runs through the active flu season, MMWR week 40 (early October) to MMWR week 20 (mid to late May) of the following year. The goal of the Flu Sentinel Surveillance program is to receive at least 175 specimens per week across the state during the 2023-24 flu season.
FDA Approves Another Over the Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray
On July 28, the FDA approved the second over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray. The new product, RiVive (manufactured by Harm Reduction Therapeutics), contains 3 mg of naloxone per sprayer for intranasal administration. The product is indicated for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. According to the manufacturer’s website, the product is anticipated to be available in early 2024.
FDA Approves New Anthrax Vaccine for Adults
On July 20, the FDA approved a new anthrax vaccine for adults aged 18–65. The vaccine, Cyfendus, is approved for use after suspected or confirmed exposure to anthrax (i.e., Bacillus anthracis) but must be administered with other antibacterial drugs. It is administered intramuscularly as a two-dose series with an interval of two weeks between doses.
Hepatitis C Testing Recommendation Update
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