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Healthcare Professionals Newsletter
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📉Participate in VDH’s Sentinel Surveillance Program
VDH is recruiting healthcare providers to take part in VDH’s Sentinel Surveillance Program. This program helps monitor influenza and other respiratory viruses circulating in Virginia.
All providers that see patients with acute respiratory illnesses are welcome to participate. This includes outpatient primary and urgent care practices, and university health systems. Providers serving rural communities are especially encouraged to participate.
There is no cost to your practice or your patients.
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Clade I Mpox Outbreak Updates
On September 23, CDC released a Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisory with prevention strategies for mpox and U.S. travelers visiting countries with ongoing clade I mpox virus (MPXV) outbreaks.
There are no reported cases of clade I MPXV in Virginia or the United States at this time.
Healthcare providers should continue to follow CDC’s current vaccine guidance to prevent clade II MPXV infection, which continues to circulate in the United States. This will also help protect against clade I MPXV.
During pre-travel health visits, healthcare providers are recommended to:
✅ Discuss mpox prevention and risk reduction strategies with all travelers to countries with ongoing human-to-human transmission of clade I MPXV.
✅ Educate patients about the risk for mpox exposure through sexual contact (regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity) associated with clade I MPXV.
✅ Recommend the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine series to adults, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, if they are traveling to a country where clade I MPXV is spreading between people AND they expect to take part in any of the following:
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Sex with a new partner
- Sex at a commercial sex venue, like a sex club or bathhouse
- Sex in exchange for money, goods, drugs, or other trade
- Sex in association with a large public event, such as a rave, party, or festival
Increase in Pediatric Pneumonia
Virginia has observed an increase in pediatric pneumonia emergency department (ED) and urgent visits in the past month. These visits are particularly among children 5-17 years of age.
During the week ending September 7, 510 pediatric pneumonia ED and urgent visits in the 0-17 age group were observed. This is a significant increase even from the elevated levels observed a month ago, with 304 ED and urgent visits for week ending August 10.
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Respiratory Immunization Updates
➡️ VDH developed a communication resource for respiratory virus immunizations.
➡️ On September 6, 2024, CDC updated its Interim Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccines. This update includes information about the 2024-2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine that was authorized by FDA on August 30, 2024.
➡️ On August 26, 2024, the FDA revised the Emergency Use Authorization for Pemgarda (pemivibart) to limit its use to when the combined national frequency of variants with substantially reduced susceptibility to Pemgarda is less than or equal to 90%. The drug may not be active against a current variant. Some people with a weakened immune system can take this pre-exposure prophylaxis drug to help protect them against COVID-19. See the FDA website for more information.
Tuberculosis Screening and Vaccination
➡️ In Virginia, a physical exam is required before entering public kindergarten or elementary school. This exam includes tuberculosis screening, vaccination, and other elements.
➡️ It is recommended that tuberculosis screening and any necessary TB testing be conducted on the same day as administering live vaccines. This avoids the four-week waiting period that must occur if TB testing needs to be completed after the administration of a live virus vaccine. This waiting period can delay a child's school entry and pose a risk to their well-being due to extended school absences.
Encourage Seasonal Flu Vaccination
➡️ At this time, there are no reports of H5N1 bird flu cases in cattle or people in Virginia. The risk of H5N1 infection for the general public remains low.
➡️ VDH recommends that healthcare providers encourage people who have job-related exposure to infected or potentially infected cattle, birds, or other animals get vaccinated for seasonal influenza.
➡️ The seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against H5N1. But it can help prevent a person from becoming ill with seasonal flu or becoming coinfected with a seasonal flu virus and H5N1.
School Health Forms
VDH offers fillable forms for healthcare providers and families. These include school entrance health forms and emergency action plans. The school entrance health form is available in several languages.
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National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) is October 20-26, 2024, with the theme BRIGHT FUTURES BEGIN LEAD-FREE. NLPPW aims to increase awareness about the dangers of lead, its potential harmful impacts on children, and ways to reduce children’s exposure to lead.
For more information on preventing lead exposure and National Lead Poisoning Prevention week, visit CDC and EPA.
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