Author: Kate Smith

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 …

Three Human Cases of West Nile Virus Identified in New Castle County

Posted on by Kate Smith

DOVER, DE (Sept. 12, 2023) – The Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) has identified this year’s first human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in three men 50 years of age and older, all of whom reside in New Castle County. All three individuals who contracted WNV were hospitalized due to infection from the mosquito-borne illness. At this time, it appears that each WNV victim is likely to have contracted the disease locally, but a public health investigation is ongoing, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced today. Read more

Posted in PR

FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Vaccines

Posted on by Kate Smith

Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action approving and authorizing for emergency use updated COVID-19 vaccines formulated to more closely target currently circulating variants and to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. Today’s actions relate to updated mRNA vaccines for 2023-2024 manufactured by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc. Read More

FDA Approves Maternal RSV Vaccine

Posted on by Kate Smith

August 21, 2023. Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post Federal regulators on Monday approved a maternal RSV vaccine administered during pregnancy to protect infants from severe illness. It’s the latest in a new arsenal of immunizations against the common respiratory virus that is the leading cause of hospitalization in young children and kills thousands of seniors annually. Read more.

ACIP Votes Unanimously to Recommend Nirsevimab

Posted on by Kate Smith

Today, ACIP voted unanimously (10 YES – 0 NO for all votes) to recommend nirsevimab for use in infants <8 months born or entering their first RSV season, and for children aged 8-19 months who are at increased risk of RSV disease entering their second RSV season (agenda and slides). The Committee also voted for the inclusion of nirsevimab in VFC: Infants aged <8 months born during or entering their first RSV reason are recommended to receive one dose of nirsevimab (50 mg for infants <5 kg and 100 mg for infants ≥5kg) Children aged 8-19 months who are at Read More …

Improving the Vaccine Experience

Posted on by Kate Smith

Free, 1-hour webinar hosted by ImmunizeOrg, “Improving the Vaccination Experience: Reducing Pain and Anxiety for Children and Adults” at 1 p.m. ET on Feb 28. Anxiety about needles and injections affects as many as 2 out of 3 children and 1 out of 4 adults; this anxiety can contribute to dreading, delaying, or avoiding vaccinations, even when the importance of preventing illness is understood. The good news is that there are safe, effective, and practical steps that those who administer vaccines and vaccine recipients or their caregivers can take to reduce vaccination-related pain and anxiety and increase confidence in vaccination. Read More …