Wednesday, August 24, 2022

CDC Recommends Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents

On Monday, Aug. 22, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., signed a decision memo that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine be used as another primary series option for adolescents ages 12 through 17.

This recommendation follows FDA’s authorization to authorize the vaccine for this age group under emergency use. Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is available now, is an important tool in the pandemic and provides a more familiar type of COVID-19 vaccine technology for adolescents. Having multiple types of vaccines offers more options and flexibility for the public, jurisdictions, and vaccine providers.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine packages harmless proteins of the COVID-19 virus alongside another ingredient called an adjuvant that helps the immune system respond to the virus in the future. Vaccines—like the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine—that use protein subunit technology have been used for more than 30 years in the United States, beginning with the first licensed hepatitis B vaccine. Other protein subunit vaccines used in the United States today include those to protect against influenza and whooping cough (acellular pertussis).  

For more information on COVID vaccines, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Dose Vaccine

The FDA is expected to soon authorize and the CDC is expected to recommend two new bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.  Both Pfizer's and Moderna's so-called bivalent vaccines were developed to target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants, as well the original coronavirus strain, in a single shot. BA.5 is currently responsible for nearly 90% of all new Covid cases in the U.S., according to the CDC. 

It is anticipated the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines will only be authorized as a single dose in people who have completed a primary vaccination series but would not vary by number or type of prior booster doses received. Initial bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster doses will include:

• Pfizer for individuals 12 years of age and older
• Moderna for individuals 18 years of age and older

Additional information on these vaccines will be available after FDA Emergency Use Authorization approval and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations are signed by the CDC director.  Both are expected in the next several weeks.

HIGH COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVEL

Dubuque County COVID-19 Community Level = HIGH

CDC Guidance for HIGH  Community Level:

• Wear a well-fitting mask* indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings)
  
  
• If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease:
  - Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection
  - Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed
  - Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to take other precautions (e.g., testing)
  - Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)
  - Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies
  
  
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease:
  - consider self-testing to detect infection before contact
  - consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
  
  
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
  
  
• Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
  
  
• Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19

* At all levels, people can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

141 New Cases Since Aug. 17

NEW POSITIVES

https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Reporting

• 141* new positive cases reported since Aug. 17. 
• Total positive cases/individuals reported to date = 28,707

* Due to the wide availability of at-home rapid tests, the results of which are usually not reported/recorded, it is widely believed that new COVID cases are underreported. The number reported in this update is the number of new cases reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

• 7 County Hospitalizations:  Today, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center has 5 inpatients with COVID-19 and UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital has 2 inpatients hospitalized with COVID for a total of 7 persons hospitalized with COVID in Dubuque County.

COMMUNITY LEVEL

Dubuque County COVID-19 Community Transmission Level = HIGH

The CDC's Community Transmission Level is based on the number of new cases per 100,000 population and is used by local healthcare facilities to determine internal protocol and procedures. 

DEATHS

• No new deaths reported since Aug. 17.
• Total deaths related to COVID to date = 304

VACCINATIONS

• 65.4% of all county residents are fully vaccinated
• 57.6% of all county residents fully vaccinated have received a booster

Get current information on Dubuque County vaccination opportunities.

Get information on local COVID-19 testing options.

Please do not reply to this message.  If you have general questions about COVID-19, please call 563-556-6200.  
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