Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will extend to Aug. 20 the deadline for submitting comments on its COVID-19 health care emergency temporary standard. The original deadline for comments was July 21. OSHA said it would not extend the compliance dates and released tools for compliance including its field inspection and enforcement procedures for enforcing the ETS.

Staff Contact: Kara Amman-Kale or Keri Barclay

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated the emergency use authorization on Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine Monday to warn of the possible increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome. While the number of events is small enough to not be causal in nature, there is an increase in the 42 days after vaccine administration of the Janssen J&J vaccine. The EUA Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers now has been updated to include “Reports of adverse events following use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine under emergency use authorization suggest an increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome during the 42 days following vaccination.” The Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers also has been updated to reflect the changes.

Staff Contact: Keri Barclay

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, developed the COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics Calculator for Infusion Sites (mAbs Calculator). The mAbs Calculator is a free, data-informed decision support tool that is based on a comprehensive simulation framework. The mAbs Calculator can be used to inform staffing decisions and resource investments needed for COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapeutic infusion sites. mAB treatments remain a viable treatment option for those testing positive for COVID-19. Updated information, including ordering information and implementation resources, are available.

Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz  or Kara Amann-Kale

To assist members with time sensitive resource requests, MHA updated the COVID-19 Resource Request Process document. As a reminder, hospitals are able to request PPE, testing supplies, vaccines and supplies, staffing assistance, and ventilators through the state of Missouri. The request process for each resource is listed in this document.

Staff Contact: Jane Drummond

MHA released a draft COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Guide to assist hospitals in developing policies surrounding workforce vaccination. The document addresses questions about mandatory vaccination policies, incentives, record keeping, screening and quarantine policies, and employee communications, among other topics.

MHA staff are seeking feedback to ensure the guide provides hospitals with the necessary information to develop vaccine policies. There is a link within the guide to provide feedback. All comments and suggested revisions will be considered and submitted to a board-approved task force appointed to review and finalize this guidance.