Help Kids’ Safe Return to School

COVID-19 disrupted both in-person learning and routine well-child visits for many children over the last year. Asa result, too many children have fallen behind on receiving recommended vaccines. We all want our kids to beback in school safely, and that means getting caught up on vaccines that were missed over the last year. Pfizer will likely submit for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for vaccine use in ages 12-15 soon, Moderna and Johnson&Johnson will likely follow for ages 12-17 in time. It is time to push to get caught up with other vaccines now, since COVID-19 vaccines should not be Read More …

2021 State of the ImmUnion

The report presents an overview of the current state of vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. and offers members of Congress ways to help ensure our country is stronger and more resilient in the face of emerging health threats.  Read more

Delaware COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division on Public Health (DPH) on Tuesday announced an expansion of Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination program.  On Wednesday, pharmacies in Delaware may begin vaccinating ​Delawareans aged 50+.  Also on Wednesday, health care providers, including hospitals, may vaccinate patients 16+ with high ​and moderate-risk medical condition​s. Providers who are NOT vaccinating may refer patients to hospital systems. Delawareans should contact their medical provider ​about vaccination opportunities. DPH has also encouraged providers to contact their highest risk patients directly to schedule vaccination appointments. Non-paid caregivers of Delawareans with high- and moderate-risk medical conditions may also qualify for vaccination through medical providers. On Tuesday, March 23, Read More …

CDC: Fully Vaccinated Guidance

The CDC has recommended actions for persons who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. People are considered fully vaccinated if it has been two weeks or more since they have received: the second dose in a two-dose series (i.e. Pfizer or Moderna) the first dose in a single dose vaccine (i.e. Johnson & Johnson) These recommendations apply only to non-healthcare settings, and include  Visiting with other fully vaccinated people indoors without the use of masks/distancing; Visiting with unvaccinated people from a single household at low risk for severe COVID-19 indoors without masks/distancing; and Refraining from quarantine/testing following a known exposure. Read More …

Second-Dose Appointments Now Open

Individuals who received their first dose of COVID-19 28 or more days ago (on or before January 29) from a pharmacy, medical provider, clinic or other source in Delaware and have not yet obtained a second dose may sign up for a Friday appointment at the ongoing vaccination event at Dover International Speedway operated by the State of Delaware and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those in the new eligibility window should make their appointments for Friday, before 6 p.m. Thursday. This is a wider eligibility window than announced earlier this week. Those being vaccinated will need to demonstrate with their Read More …

DPH: Updated Plans for 2nd Dose

DOVER (Jan. 28, 2021) – Today, the Division of Public Health (DPH) announced an updated approach to administering second doses in response to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC announced Friday that an interval of 42 days between doses is acceptable, if adhering to the 21-day (Pfizer) and 28-day (Moderna) intervals is not possible. Given extremely limited vaccine supply, DPH is recommending to vaccine partners that they schedule second doses between 28 and 35 days after the first dose is administered. This policy will enable the state to continue administering first doses to the vulnerable Read More …

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Delaware Division of Public Health | January 26, 2021 With limited supply of vaccine from the federal government, the state is faced with very difficult decisions about the most effective use of the doses it has. The science shows that the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine provides 52% to 80% protection, so concentrating on first doses is critical to reducing hospitalizations and deaths. We also believe we need to get Phase 1A high-risk health care workers second doses as soon as possible – both because they have frequent contact with COVID patients and have less ability to social distance. Until Read More …

Risk related to spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EAA

This risk assessment presents the latest available information on the recent emergence of two variants of potential concern, VOC 202012/01 discovered in the United Kingdom (UK) and another variant, 501.V2 identified in South Africa. It also assesses the risk of these variants of concern being introduced and spread in the EU/EEA, as well as the increased impact this would have on health systems in the coming weeks. Read more.