The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee voted Nov. 3 to recommend providers wear masks during routine check-ups to prevent the spread of endemic, respiratory infections.
The draft recommendation does not specify what kind of mask to wear in general interactions, but the agency does recommend the use of N95 masks in cases where patients are infected with new or emerging pathogens for which vaccines and treatments are not available.
CDC also announced Nov. 6 that it will expand testing of international air traveler samples to include flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and other respiratory viruses, in addition to SARS-CoV-2, as part of its Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program.
The program covers flights from more than 135 countries from all World Health Organization regions.
FDA Clarifies Appropriate Vaccine Dosage for Youth Younger than 11
On Nov. 1, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised health care providers administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to youth ages 6 months to 11 years old to ensure that the correct volume of the vaccine, 0.25 mL, is withdrawn from the vial.
The notice comes after the agency became aware that some providers may not recognize that the single dose vial of the vaccine for youth in the age group contains notably more than 0.25 mL of the vaccine.
The FDA says it has not identified any safety risks or serious adverse events associated with administration of the higher dose in this age group.
CDC No Longer Will Issue Vaccination Cards
The CDC announced Nov. 1 it no longer will issue COVID-19 vaccination cards and clarified it does not maintain vaccination records. The agency suggests individuals contact their state health department’s immunization information system to receive a digital or paper copy of their full vaccination record, including COVID-19 vaccinations.
Visit the America’s Essential Hospitals coronavirus resource page for more information about the pandemic.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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