August 19, 2021
Healthcare providers should be aware that on July 30, 2021, the FDA revised the emergency use authorization (EUA) for casirivimab/imdevimab (REGEN-COV) to include authorization for post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19. REGEN-COV also remains authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
August 2, 2021
COVID-19 cases in Idaho have increased 70% since July 1, 2021. In Central District Health’s (CDH) counties, COVID-19 cases increased over 158% from June to July 2021. Nationally, cases have increased over 300% from June 19 to July 23, 2021. Increases in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are driven by the highly transmissible B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant combined with relatively low vaccination rates.
July 7, 2021
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.
May 25, 2021
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.
April 15, 2021
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).
April 6, 2021
Several recent changes have occurred regarding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of certain high-risk patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
January 19, 2021
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.
January 19, 2021
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.
January 19, 2021
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.
December 15, 2020
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.