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03/10/25 Health Advisory: Report any serious adverse events after ceftriaxone administration
Summary On Feb. 7, 2025, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a call for cases related to about 10 severe adverse events that closely followed ceftriaxone injection or infusion. The events began Sept. 1, 2024. No single product type or lot number is tied to these severe events. While there is no confirmed…
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Health Advisory: Updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters authorized for children 6 months to 5 years old
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesEarlier this month, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded emergency use authorization (EUA) of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccines for children 6 months and older. Updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster vaccines are formulated to boost immunity against the original coronavirus strain and protect against the newer omicron…
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12/19/22 Health Advisory: Antiviral Flu Treatment Interim Guidance
Be advised: Background Seasonal flu activity is high across the United States. Vaccination and antiviral treatment help prevent and control flu. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 4 antivirals for early treatment of outpatients with flu: oseltamivir, baloxavir, zanamivir and peramivir. While FDA does not report shortages of oseltamivir in any of its forms, providers…
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12/19/22 Health Advisory: Newly Arrived Ukrainian Citizens’ Medical and Mental Health Needs
On April 21, 2022, President Biden announced a new Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) process to help Ukrainian citizens fleeing war come to the United States temporarily. As of Nov. 18, 2022: Newly arrived Ukrainian citizens have various medical and mental health needs. Resources
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12/12/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 Therapeutics Updates
Advisory or Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesBebtelovimab no longer authorized in the United States. On Nov. 30, 2022, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for bebtelovimab. Bebtelovimab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat COVID-19. FDA revoked the EUA because the drug lost efficacy against most SARS-CoV-2 variants currently circulating in the United States. Currently,…
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11/22/22 Health Advisory: Pediatric respiratory illness increasing in Western Washington
On Nov. 18, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issued a high-level alert on a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing remarkable strain on pediatric emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). This alert followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Nov. 4 Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory on multiple viruses causing…
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11/08/22 Health Advisory: Increased Respiratory Virus Activity
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Provider Resources, SchoolsMultiple viruses are causing increased respiratory illness, especially among children, straining healthcare systems. Transmission of respiratory illnesses is increased in our communities. Schools report much higher absenteeism than normal for this time of year. Our hospital emergency departments are seeing many patients. This increase in illness early in respiratory illness season highlights the importance of…
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10/27/22 Health Advisory: 2022–2023 Influenza Season Surveillance, Testing & Treatment
Advisory or Update, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Influenza, Influenza Update, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Vaccine This season’s updates in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Prevention and Control of Influenza (MMWR Vol. 71/No. 1): Surveillance Seasonal influenza surveillance starts in October and continues through April. We expect SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses will circulate simultaneously. To aid testing and treatment decisions, stay aware of local influenza and…
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10/19/22 Health Advisory: Updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters available to children 5 years or older
Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup approved an age expansion for updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. The expansion allows children: 5–11 years old to get 1 booster dose of Pfizer pediatric updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. 6–17 years old to get 1…
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10/03/22 Health Advisory: Severe cases of monkeypox among people with immune compromise
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, Health Advisory, monkeypox, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesSince May 2022, the United States has seen more than 25,000 cases of monkeypox virus (MPV). Most cases are mild to moderate, but some people are at higher risk of severe illness: Under 8 years old. Immune compromise. Atopic dermatitis or eczema. Pregnant. Unsuppressed or uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Of those currently diagnosed with MPV…
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09/09/22 Health Advisory: COVID-19 and Monkeypox Update for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, monkeypox, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesCOVID-19 Monkeypox Monkeypox virus (MPV) is an ongoing health emergency. Pierce County has 40 reported cases. The United States has over 21,000 reported cases. See our provider resources monkeypox page for prevention, testing and treatment guidance. Monkeypox is a notifiable condition. Call to report suspected or confirmed cases within 24 hours. Jynneos vaccine We have a limited…
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09/02/22 Health Advisory: Bivalent Vaccine Booster for COVID-19
Advisory or Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Immunizations, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware: Moderna and Pfizer created bivalent formulations of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The bivalent vaccines target the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to the bivalent vaccines for use as a single booster dose. People can get…
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08/25/22 Health Advisory: Monkeypox and COVID-19 Update for Providers
Advisory or Update, Communicable Disease and Immunization Update, COVID-19, Health Advisory, Infection Control, monkeypox, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Suspect monkeypox virus (MPV) infection in any patient who presents with 1 or more lesions that suggest MPV, regardless of the patient’s age, social history, gender or sexual identity. Several commercial labs, as well as Washington State Public Health Labs (PHL), now test for MPV. PHL updated its MPV specimen collection guidance: Preferred…