What's New

CDC Expands Recommendation for COVID-19 Booster Shots to Children

5/24/22 -- Following FDA’s revised EUA to include booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children five years of age and older, the CDC strengthened its COVID-19 recommendation to include a booster shot for this age group five months after their initial Pfizer vaccination series. Read the CDC announcement.
CDC HAN Advisory: COVID-19 Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment

5/24/22 -- The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to update healthcare providers, public health departments, and the public on the potential for recurrence of COVID-19 or “COVID-19 rebound.” Paxlovid continues to be recommended for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 among persons at high risk for progression to severe disease. Paxlovid treatment helps prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. COVID-19 rebound has been reported to occur between 2 and 8 days after initial recovery and is characterized by a recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a new positive viral test after having tested negative. A brief return of symptoms may be part of the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in some persons, independent of treatment with Paxlovid and regardless of vaccination status. Limited information currently available from case reports suggests that persons treated with Paxlovid who experience COVID-19 rebound have had mild illness; there are no reports of severe disease. There is currently no evidence that additional treatment is needed with Paxlovid or other anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies in cases where COVID-19 rebound is suspected. Read more.
Monkeypox Confirmed in US, CDC COCA Call Tuesday 5/24 2 pm ET

5/24/22 -- The CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) issued a health advisory to notify providers that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the CDC are investigating a confirmed case of monkeypox in the United States. Since May 14, 2022, clusters of monkeypox cases have been reported in several countries that don’t normally have monkeypox. Although previous cases outside of Africa have been associated with travel from Nigeria, most of the recent cases do not have direct travel-associated exposure risks. CDC is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to ask clinicians in the United States to be vigilant to the characteristic rash associated with monkeypox. Read the CDC HAN Health Advisory.
AHRQ Technical Brief: Emergency Medical Service/911 Workforce Infection Control and Prevention Issues
April 22, 2022
AHRQ Technical Brief
CDC/ASPR Listening Session on Proposed Update to CMS CoP on Pandemic Reporting

5/17/22 -- The CDC and the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) are holding virtual listening sessions on the proposed revision to hospital and critical access hospital Conditions of Participation (CoP) on hospital data reporting provisions for COVID-19 after the conclusion of the current public health emergency (PHE), as well as future PHE declarations related to acute respiratory illnesses. The proposed revision is included in the CMS FY 2023 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule and can be found on page 511 (Fed. Reg. 28618, bottom of the 3^rd column) on this link.
CDC Updates COVID-19 Pediatric Operational Planning Guide

5/17/22 -- In anticipation of a COVID-19 vaccine for the under-5 population, CDC has updated the Pediatric Operational Planning Guide. Read the updated COVID-19 Vaccination for Children page on the CDC website. Access a direct link to the PDF of the guide.
FDA Expands Eligibility for Pfizer COVID Vaccine Booster Dose for Children Ages 5-11

5/17/22 -- The FDA amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to authorize the use of a single booster dose for individuals 5 to 11 years of age at least 5 months after completion of a primary series with the Pfizer vaccine. Read the FDA announcement.
Fagron Recalls SyrSpend SF Cherry Due to Microbial Contamination

5/13/22 -- Fagron, Inc. is voluntarily recalling two lots of SyrSpend SF Cherry to the hospital, pharmacy, and distributor level out of an abundance of caution. The affected lots are potentially contaminated with Burkholderia gladioli. Fagron sells this product for the extemporaneous compounding of prescriptions for oral dosing. Exposure to contaminated product could lead to adverse events, which could be severe for at-risk individuals. Read the FDA recall notice.
Woodside Acquisitions Recalls COVID-19 Antigen Tests

5/16/22 -- Woodside Acquisitions Inc. is recalling the Oral Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test Kit and the Joysbio SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test Kit (Colloidal Gold) because they were distributed to U.S. customers without authorization, clearance, or approval from the FDA. Read the FDA recall notice.
FDA Authorizes OTC COVID-19/RSV/Flu Test

5/16/22 -- The FDA authorized the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC Test for use without a prescription by individuals with symptoms of respiratory viral infection consistent with COVID-19. This is the first non-prescription test authorized to identify respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A and B, as well as COVID-19, that allows an individual to self-collect a nasal swab sample at home and then send that sample to Labcorp for testing. Read the FDA announcement.