Author: Kate Smith

Vaccine Community Ambassadors Program

Posted on by Kate Smith

Quality Insights and the Delaware Division of Public Health are offering an exciting opportunity for community members to contribute to improved health.  The Vaccine Community Ambassador program is seeking people to share messages to strengthen vaccination rates and improve vaccine confidence.  Click Here for more information. All that is required to participate is a desire to help people and improve Delawareans’ knowledge of vaccines.  Any active member of your community age 18 or older can apply.  A medical background is not necessary, and free training will be provided.  College students and retirees are strongly encouraged to apply.  Small incentive payments Read More …

Vaccinate Your Family: 2023 Annual Report

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“Building a Culture of Immunization Through Partnerships” 2023 marked 30 years since the Vaccines For Children Program (VFC) was signed into law. This year’s Report reflects on the more than 1 million lives saved thanks to childhood vaccines in the U.S. in the VFC era and proposes a roadmap back to a culture of immunization based on collaboration. Inside Vaccinate Your Family’s 2023 Annual Report you’ll find: A letter from CEO, Amy Pisani Celebrating 30 years of the Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program Summaries of Vaccinate Your Family’s key programs, partnerships, platforms, and policies Read the report here: https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/about-us/funding/

Florida Measles Outbreak

Posted on by Kate Smith

From Katelyn Jetelina and Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD (Your Local Epidemiologist) The measles outbreak at a Florida elementary school has grown to 8 cases and counting. We have measles outbreaks all the time (although the rate is increasing due to vaccine hesitancy), but this one came with a new controversy. The Florida State Health Department released a letter with a surprising new recommendation that contradicts standard of practice guidelines for measles outbreaks in two big ways: Isolation. It stated that unvaccinated kids who were exposed to measles could continue to attend school. This is unprecedented. Those with no prior immunity Read More …

Recommended Composition of Flu Vaccines for 2024-2025

Posted on by Kate Smith

The WHO recommends that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2024-2025 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following: Egg-based vaccines an A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;  an A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus; and a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus. Cell culture- or recombinant-based vaccines an A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; an A/Massachusetts/18/2022 (H3N2)-like virus; and a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus. For quadrivalent egg- or cell culture-based or recombinant vaccines for use in the 2024-2025 northern hemisphere influenza season: While the B/Yamagata lineage vaccine component should be excluded as it is no longer warranted, where quadrivalent vaccines are still in use, the B/Yamagata lineage component remains unchanged: Egg-, cell- or Read More …

The Alarming Resurgence of Measles: What You Need to Know

Posted on by Kate Smith

From the Medical Society of Delaware: MSD is pleased to announce that the recording of the MSD Hot Topic presentation on the recent increase in measles cases by Dr. Stephen Eppes is now available for viewing on the MSD YouTube Channel. Dr. Eppes specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at Christiana Care Health System. He is active on many Christiana Care committees and serves not only as Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, but also as Associate Infection Prevention Officer for Christiana Care. Throughout his career, Dr. Eppes has been recognized for his clinical and teaching skills. Among his many repeat honors, Read More …

DPH Confirms Flu-Related Deaths During 2023-2024 Season

Posted on by Kate Smith

NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact Laura Matusheski, Media Relations Coordinator, (302) 824-3970 or DPHMedia@delaware.gov. DPH Confirms Flu-Related Deaths During 2023-2024 Flu Season, Urges Public to Get Vaccinated DOVER, DE (Jan. 30, 2024) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced today six (6) suspected flu-related deaths for the 2023-2024 influenza season. The first recorded death of the season was in December. All decedents were over the age of 55 with one reportedly up to date on their flu vaccination. Three of the decedents were New Castle County residents, Read More …

DPH Issues Notification About Potential Measles Exposure

Posted on by Kate Smith

The Delaware Division of Public Health Issues Notification About Potential Measles Exposure DOVER, Del. (Jan. 8, 2024) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is reporting a potential measles exposure in a Delaware health care facility. On January 5, 2024, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health identified a confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated individual. While infectious, the individual sought care at a healthcare facility in Delaware on December 29, 2023. In response to this exposure, DPH is acting to quickly identify and prevent the spread of disease. Officials are working to identify anyone who may have been Read More …

More RSV Shots on the Way

Posted on by Kate Smith

December 14, 2023 Politico.com The White House announced Thursday it struck a deal with drug manufacturers to make available 230,000 more doses of the respiratory syncytial virus shot for infants by January, amid a widespread shortage that’s had parents and pediatricians scrambling to find shots. The move comes after weeks of pressure from top Biden administration officials, who were speaking almost daily with the drug companies in an effort to ramp up supply, three people familiar with the matter told POLITICO. Read more The White House On Wednesday, senior Biden-Harris Administration officials met again with manufacturers of RSV immunizations including Sanofi and AstraZeneca Read More …

Posted in RSV

FDA Authorizes Updated Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine

Posted on by Kate Smith

October 3, 2023. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted for use in individuals 12 years of age and older to include the 2023-2024 formula. Individuals 12 years of age and older previously vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine (and who have not already been vaccinated with a recently updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine) are eligible to receive one dose and unvaccinated individuals receive two doses. Read More

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Availability Expected Within Next Week

Posted on by Kate Smith

DOVER, Del. (Sept. 15, 2023) –  This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the recommendation that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter.  The recommendation follows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) action approving and authorizing for emergency use updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna formulated to more closely target currently circulating variants.  Per the CDC, vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death and reduces the chance of suffering from Long COVID.  Anyone who has yet to receive any type of Read More …