Author: Kate Smith

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 …

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 …