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This weekly newsletter provides summarized content on COVID-19 vaccine related topics. This broad level of information is tailored towards health care professionals, partners, and the general public.
WASHINGTON COVID-19 VACCINATION STATUS: PHASE 1A
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CHANGE TO PHASE 1A GUIDANCE
Dear Colleagues,
We want to give you a heads up about an addition the Department of Health (DOH) will be making to Washington’s 1A vaccine allocation guidance today. We have worked closely with the Governor and his team and Dr. Shah to review and update COVID vaccine related matters in Washington.
It is our goal to move vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible within our state and among our COVID-19 vaccines providers following the prioritization framework for our state. Our framework is informed by ACIP’s and the NASEM’s frameworks and stakeholder engagement within our state over the past few months.
Some communities in Washington state have already completed or are very near to completing vaccination of their high risk workers in health care settings as outlined in current DOH guidance. Today, we will be adding a second tier to Phase 1A that allows for the vaccination of all other workers in health care settings once high risk workers are vaccinated.
We acknowledge that some communities are still working through Phase 1A and others will be able to move to this second tier of Phase 1A more quickly than others. Across Washington, it is important that health care systems actively reach out to and provide access to COVID-19 vaccination for the community-based health care workforce outside their systems and in their community. This will help the state complete this phase and ensure we have a protected healthcare system. This includes vaccinating other health care providers, school nurses, and behavioral health providers.
We are still working to finalize prioritization for Phases 1B/1C and expect to release this guidance shortly after the new year so communities can begin planning outreach and vaccination of these groups next.
We appreciate the ongoing partnership with local public health and the healthcare system in supporting this critical aspect of our response and recovery from the pandemic.
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VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
As of December 30, 2020, 111,150 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered to health care providers in Washington state, and 56,236 doses have been administered.
171,700 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered to health care providers in Washington state, and 13,106 of those doses have been administered.
442 health care facilities are enrolled as COVID-19 vaccine providers, covering all but one county. All counties should have at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine provider within the coming weeks.
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FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY COVID-19
The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has developed a web page of financial resources for Washington consumers impacted by the Coronavirus. In addition to English and Spanish pages, DFI recently created a web page with COVID-19 Consumer Protection Resource Sheets in 36 different languages. These PDFs contain information on mortgage assistance, student loans, and scams/fraud.
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"COPING WITH COVID" PODCAST AND BLOG SERIES
A recent blog and podcast series hosted by the Department of Health talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts us. Podcast hosts include disaster psychologist Kira Mauseth, PhD, and psychiatrist Doug Dicharry, MD. You can listen to the podcast series on the mental and emotional well-being page of the state's COVID response web site, or read the Public Health Connection blog series on medium.
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NEW LANGUAGES FOR V-SAFE WEBSITE, APP
The landing page for V-Safe, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) after vaccination health checker app, is now available in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese. The app should have these languages added in January.
V-Safe is a smartphone-based app that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Through V-safe, you can tell CDC about any side effects you experience after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. V-safe will also remind you to get your second vaccine dose if you need one. For more information and how to register, visit CDC's V-Safe page.
If health care providers need digital versions of v-safe information sheets, posters, or vaccination card templates, please email us at covid.vaccine@doh.wa.gov.
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EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT UPDATE
The Department of Health is launching a COVID-19 Vaccine Collaborative in late January 2021 to provide a space for:
- Supporting COVID-19 vaccine planning and implementation efforts as guided by state and federal guidance.
- Providing feedback on COVID-19 vaccine outreach efforts to ensure messaging is community-driven and builds vaccine confidence and trust within Washington communities.
- Sharing COVID-19 vaccine updates and materials with their respective communities/sectors and other Collaborative members.
Learn more here.
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Q: What can I do now to help protect myself against COVID-19 while a vaccine is not available for everyone?
A: You should cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay 6 feet away from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often. Get more information about these and other steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
If you have more questions, please check out the following FAQ web pages:
For the public:
For health care providers:
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MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATES AND RESOURCES
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their web page on the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. It includes information on administration, clinical considerations, storage and handling, and frequently asked questions. The pre-administration checklist, temperature logs, and other storage and handling materials were recently added to the page.
Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Moderna have websites with the Moderna vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) fact sheets. Separate fact sheets are available for vaccination providers or for vaccine recipients and caregivers. Additionally, the FDA offers the recipient fact sheet in Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Moderna activated its 24/7 Call Center at 1-866-663-3762 for Moderna vaccine questions. Calls will be routed to one of four areas. The areas include general Moderna questions, health care provider questions, product quality or technical questions, and the pregnancy registry.
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PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE EUA UPDATES AND RESOURCES
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reissued the Letter of Authorization (LOA) and the revised fact sheets for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on December 23, 2020. The FDA also updated the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine FAQ page to include guidance on using extra doses left in Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine vials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated their web page on the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. These updates include a pre-administration checklist, temperature logs, and other storage and handling materials.
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UPDATED VACCINE GUIDANCE ON EXPIRATION DATES
You should always check the expiration date before preparing or administering vaccine. Do not use expired vaccine or diluent. Expiration dates for some products may change as we get additional stability data.
To check the expiration dates for Moderna, scan the QR code on the vial or carton, or check the lot number on the manufacturer’s website.
To check the expiration dates for Pfizer-BioNTech, check the expiration date on the vial.
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BOOSTER DOSES FOR COVID VACCINE PROVIDERS
This is a reminder for COVID-19 vaccine providers that you should not be saving the first round of COVID vaccine for booster doses. You will receive booster doses in the coming weeks.
The Department of Health will automatically place your booster dose (second dose) orders next week in the same quantity as your prime dose (first dose) order that you received week 1.
Individuals that were administered doses the first week of the vaccine campaign will be due for the second dose beginning the week of January 4. You should be planning events for second dose administration. It is a priority to ensure individuals vaccinated complete their 2-dose series.
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SUPPLIES FOR EXTRA PFIZER VACCINE DOSES UPDATE
As health care providers used extra doses from Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine vials, it was brought to the Department of Health's attention there wasn't enough ancillary supply kits to support the additional vaccinations. Federal partners are currently working on a solution to provide more supply kits, and once there is a process we will communicate out to health care providers.
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MODERNA VACCINE REDISTRIBUTION AND TRANSFER PRINCIPLES
We do not recommend transferring or redistributing vaccine due to the risk of a temperature excursion. However, we realize there may be situations where it is necessary. CDC recently released considerations for transferring the Moderna vaccine. We are working to incorporate this into our redistribution guidance and will have an updated version available next week.
You should ideally transport the Moderna vaccine in a frozen state, especially if it is being transported at temperatures above freezing conditions (-15° to -25°C). If the vaccine is thawed, you should take special care to protect the package from drops and shocks. It cannot be re-frozen after being thawed.
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UPDATED CONTRAINDICATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS TO COVID-19 VACCINATION
The contraindications and precautions to COVID-19 vaccinations have been updated in the Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page. This information was shared during a webinar on December 30th. The recording and slides are available on this web page.
We've listed some additional tools to identify persons with contraindications and precautions below:
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UPDATED COVID VACCINATION PROVIDER AGREEMENT LANGUAGE
There is a change to the language on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination provider agreement regarding the requirement to follow Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. The change can be found on the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Support website. This change came as a result of the conflict between states having the authority to set their own prioritization schema vs. the providers being required to follow ACIP recommendations.
The new language now states:
Providers must administer COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with prioritization groups determined by appropriate public health authorities (i.e., CDC/ACIP, state/territorial health department in coordination with the state/territorial governor, Indian Health Service, Tribal Health Programs, Urban Indian Organizations, the Freely Associated States). [Update to CDC COVID-1 Vaccination Provider Agreement, Paragraph 1.]
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EVENT: A Community Conversation: Islam, COVID-19, Vaccines & Mistrust
Join imams, medical professionals and community leaders as they discuss faith, COVID-19, vaccines, community trust, and looking ahead.
Wednesday, January 13, 2020
3:00pm - 5:00pm PT
Register for the event here.
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RECORDING: The World We Live in is a House on Fire: Latinx Health and COVID-19
Watch the recording on discussing the Latinx community's health during the COVID-19 pandemic and how we can work together to put the fire out.
YouTube video
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RECORDING: Making It Plain: A COVID-19 Town Hall
National black health experts and leaders have a discussion on COVID-19 vaccines and clinical trials.
YouTube Video
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PFIZER BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE TRAINING SESSIONS
Pfizer is offering a series of training sessions for health care providers to review information on the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and answer questions. Each training listed below will cover the same content.
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MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE AUTHORIZED FOR USE AND SHIPPED TO STATE
Following the FDA and CDC's initial authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup reviewed and provided their unanimous recommendation to use the vaccine in state. The workgroup is comprised of vaccine experts from Washington, California, Oregon and Nevada and have been meeting to review the data on both the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
Moderna vaccine started arriving in Washington early in the week of December 20, 2020 following the approval.
Read the full news release here.
COVID-19 QUARANTINE GUIDANCE UPDATED FOR STRAIN IN UK
On December 21, Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation requiring all people who travel to Washington state from certain countries, which include the United Kingdom and South Africa, to quarantine for 14 days after arriving. The proclamation follows a travel advisory the governor issued last month recommending a 14-day quarantine for all interstate and international travel.
The quarantine change comes as a new variant of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) has been circulating in different countries. UK health officials say the new strain may spread more easily, but they are not seeing more serious illness or an impact on vaccine effectiveness at this time.
Read the full news release here.
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WA NOTIFY APP USERS TOPS 1.5 MILLION
On December 23, the Department of Health announced more than 1.5 million people activated WA Notify, a simple, anonymous exposure notification tool that uses smartphones to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The number of WA Notify users puts Washington state among the top five states for the use of exposure notification technology.
WA Notify launched on November 30 of this year in more than 29 languages. It works by alerting the user if they spent time near another user who later tests positive for COVID-19. WA Notify uses privacy-preserving technology developed by Google an Apple and works without collecting or revealing any location or personal data.
Read the full news release here.
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COVID-19 TRANSMISSION FLATTENS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REVERSE TRENDS SEEN IN EARLY NOVEMBER
On December 24, the Washington State Department of Health released a statewide situation report on COVID-19. The report shows substantial decreases in transmission, but it is not enough to return the state to lower levels of disease activity seen earlier in the fall. The plateaus may be due in part to the current restrictions on gatherings and certain businesses.
While active COVID-19 infections are similar to mid-November, hospitalizations are higher. The overall percentage of Washington state residents with active COVID-19 infection is still higher than the peak in late March. Residents should maintain behaviors that protect against COVID-19 to avoid an increase in infection rates and keep the health care system from overloading.
Read the full news release here.
COVID-19 REMINDERS DURING HOLIDAY SEASON
We are asking people not to seek screening tests in order to attend winter holiday celebrations. We want to ensure testing access for those with COVID-like symptoms or confirmed close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Public health case investigators and contact tracers work seven days a week to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. That includes holidays. If you receive a call or text from public health this holiday season, please answer.
While it is still important to limit holiday celebrations to only members of your immediate households, you can still plan on safer activities like:
- Organizing online holiday gatherings, contests (cookie decorating, gingerbread houses, etc.), or holiday movie watch parties.
- Dropping off gifts or treats for friends and family at their doorsteps.
- Outdoor activities like holiday hikes, snowball fights, sledding, or snowshoeing. If done with members outside your household, wear a mask, keep your distance, and keep it small.
You can find more safe alternatives for holiday gatherings in our winter holiday guidance here.
Read the full news release here.
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This newsletter summarizes content from the week of December 27, 2020 and was sent out on December 31, 2020. |
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