Category: Vaccines

COVID-19 Vaccine Speed

Posted on by Kate Smith

Will the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development reset industry norms?  New drugs and vaccines typically take several years to hit the market. In fact, the average time to develop a drug or vaccine has been eight to ten years — until recently. In a new analysis, McKinsey reviews what it took to shorten that timeline to less than a year. It examines the funding, operational, technological, and regulatory factors that allowed for fast development of Covid-19 vaccines, revealing which variables will remain relevant for future efforts — and which won’t.

Major Changes to COVID Restrictions

Posted on by Kate Smith

WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) on Tuesday announced major upcoming changes to Delaware’s COVID-19 restrictions. Effective Friday, May 21:  All capacity restrictions inside restaurants, retail, other business establishments and houses of worship will be lifted.  Facilities will be able to use as much capacity as social distancing requirements will allow. Masks will still be required indoors to prevent spread of COVID-19.  Outdoors, Delawareans should follow masking guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Risk for COVID-19 spread increases in large crowds that include unvaccinated people. In those cases, CDC recommends that everyone Read More …

National Infant Immunization Week

Posted on by Kate Smith

This week, April 24-May 1, 2021, is National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW).  NIIW is an annual observance to highlight the positive impact of vaccination on the lives of infants and children, and this year a priority is to ensure that families stay on track for children’s routine checkups and vaccinations, even during COVID-19.  As in-person learning and play become more common, on-time vaccination is even more urgent to help provide immunity against 14 diseases with recommended childhood vaccinations. Learn more

Help Kids’ Safe Return to School

Posted on by Kate Smith

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 …

Delaware COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Posted on by Kate Smith

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

Posted on by Kate Smith

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

Posted on by Kate Smith

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

Posted on by Kate Smith

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 …