Category: Health Alert Network

Treatment with monoclonal antibody therapies continues to be recommended for certain patients with COVID-19 who are at high-risk of progression to severe disease. However, there are some recent changes of which healthcare providers should be aware.

Myocarditis with or without pericarditis has been reported in three Idaho patients after they had recently received COVID-19 vaccine. All three patients received the second dose of Pfizer vaccine 2-10 days before being evaluated at a hospital. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state public health agencies are also aware of reports of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination; the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group has recently reported a statement on the issue, at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/work-groups-vast/technical-report-2021-05-17.html. Consider a diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis in any evaluation of chest pain following COVID-19 vaccination.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are reviewing data involving six U.S. cases of a rare type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J COVID-19 vaccine that were reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS).

Several recent changes have occurred regarding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of certain high-risk patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

On December 17, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated treatment guidelines for uncomplicated gonorrhea and now recommend a single 500 mg intramuscular (IM) dose of ceftriaxone. Dual therapy is no longer recommended. Treatment for coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis with oral doxycycline, 100 mg twice a day for 7 days should be administered when chlamydial infection has not been excluded.

Idaho healthcare providers should be aware that monoclonal antibodies, which may be helpful in preventing hospitalization among high-risk patients with COVID-19, are available in the state. The drugs have received FDA emergency use authorization.

On December 17, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated treatment guidelines for uncomplicated gonorrhea and now recommend a single 500 mg intramuscular (IM) dose of ceftriaxone. Dual therapy is no longer recommended. Treatment for coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis with oral doxycycline, 100 mg twice a day for 7 days should be administered when chlamydial infection has not been excluded.

Idaho has received the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines! All Idaho providers can access vaccine information and education specific to Idaho’s vaccination program on the Idaho Coronavirus webpage and the Department of Health and Welfare website. We encourage providers to check these resources often as information is being released frequently.

Based on the best information available as of mid-July 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated recommendations for discontinuation of isolation or precautions for people who have a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. Key changes include: shortening of the time after resolution of fever before discontinuation of isolation or precautions; removal of recommendations for a test-based strategy except for certain circumstances; and recommendation to not retest individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and remain asymptomatic during the 3 months following symptom onset.

Central District Health (CDH) staff are happy to answer your COVID-19 related questions. Additionally, would like to share information related to some of the more common questions we receive.