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06.15.21
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Staff Contact: Mat Reidhead or Jackie Gatz
With 43.3% of its entire population fully inoculated against COVID-19, Boone County is the most vaccinated county in Missouri by 4.4 percentage points. By contrast, only 30% of residents in Linn County and 32% of Greene County residents have completed vaccination. Boone County, with a population of 180,463 residents, has seen on average seven new cases per day since May 1, a rate of 3.9 per 100,000 residents. In Linn County, with a resident population of 11,920 and the fourth-highest rate of new case growth in the country, there have been an average of 7.9 new cases per day since the beginning of May for a rate of 66.2 per 100,000 residents. The inverse association between new COVID-19 cases and vaccine coverage is becoming clear, even in areas of the state where the more transmissible Delta variant originating in India and Alpha variant originating in the U.K. are circulating. This includes Columbia and Brookfield, the population centers of Boone and Linn counties, according to the state’s wastewater treatment surveillance program.
The good news is the outbreak in north central Missouri largely has been contained to a cluster of sparsely populated counties. The bad news is the Delta variant that is believed to be the genesis of the recent outbreak in northeast Missouri now is circulating in and around Springfield, the state’s third-most populous metropolitan area, a major summer tourism hub and the most vaccine-hesitant region in the state. New cases already are beginning to accelerate in Springfield’s Greene County. During the last two weeks of May, the county saw an average of 32.6 new cases per day. During the first two weeks of June, the daily average grew to 62.3, a relative increase of 91% over a span of two weeks.
Staff Contact: Kara Amann-Kale or Keri Barclay
Following extensive review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration extended the expiration dating for the refrigerated Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Based on the information submitted, the FDA determined that the vaccine can be stored at 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit (or 2-8 degrees Celsius) for 4.5 months instead of three months. For facilities seeking guidance on expiration dates of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine supply, visit vaxcheck.jnj.
Staff Contact: Kara Amann-Kale or Keri Barclay
Late last week, Moderna requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expand its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization to include 12-17 year olds. The supporting data include more than 3,700 adolescents with no cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated individuals. There were four cases of COVID-19 that occurred in the placebo group. No significant safety concerns were identified.
Staff Contact: Kara Amann-Kale or Keri Barclay
Late last week, Moderna requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expand its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization to include 12-17 year olds. The supporting data include more than 3,700 adolescents with no cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated individuals. There were four cases of COVID-19 that occurred in the placebo group. No significant safety concerns were identified.
Staff Contact: Jane Drummond or Leslie Porth
Today, BJC Healthcare announced a new policy to require employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The new policy will be implemented immediately for any personnel beginning employment after this announcement and a requirement for existing employees by Wednesday, Sept. 15. MHA released a statement supporting the new policy. As noted by MHA President and CEO Herb B. Kuhn, “The state’s hospitals are encouraging all Missourians to join us in helping stop the spread of the virus. That means leading by example.”
Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced an additional payment available when administering in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to Medicare beneficiaries. In addition to the $40 for vaccine administration, CMS will make an additional $35 per dose for COVID-19 vaccinations administered in a beneficiaries home. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure stated, “CMS is committed to meeting the unique needs of Medicare consumers and their communities — particularly those who are home bound or have trouble getting to a vaccination site. That’s why we’re acting today to expand the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine to people with Medicare at home.”
Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler or Daniel Landon
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new guidance regarding Provider Relief Funds distributed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other changes, they clarify that the availability of funds is based on the date of receipt, extend the deadline for reporting and revise the threshold for required reporting.
Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a reminder to providers and insurers of their obligation to cover COVID-19 vaccinations and testing “without patients shouldering any cost.” HHS states that “COVID-19 vaccines and their administration are free for any individual living in the U.S., regardless of their insurance or immigration status.” The Health Resources and Services Administration established processes for providers to bill for and receive payment for COVID-19 vaccine-related fees provided to the uninsured. HHS also reminds insurers of updated guidance that requires group health plans and health insurers to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing without cost-sharing. Health plans and insurers that fail to comply may be reported to the appropriate state insurance departments or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for possible enforcement action.
Staff Contact: Keri Barclay
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is hosting a Clinical Outreach and Communicatoin Activity call, “Evaluating and Caring for Patients with Post-COVID Conditions,” at 1 p.m. CDT Thursday, June 17. The call will focus on the CDC’s new interim guidance, which provides a framework for health care providers in their initial assessment, evaluation, management and follow-up of persons with possible post-COVID conditions. Post-COVID conditions still are being characterized and include symptoms such as cognitive difficulties, fatigue, headache, dyspnea and palpitations.
Staff Contact: Jane Drummond
A federal judge for the Southern District Court in Texas dismissed a lawsuit brought by employees contesting the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy imposed by Houston Methodist Hospital. The court determined the plaintiffs failed to state a claim for wrongful termination under Texas employment law. It also held that the requirement did not violate federal law or the Nuremberg Code, finding the plaintiffs’ attempt to compare mandatory vaccine to Nazi experiments on concentration camp victims “reprehensible.”
Similar suits remain pending in California and New Mexico.
Staff Contact: Mary Becker
The Ad Council developed additional creative assets — including public service announcements for TV, radio, print, out of home and digital — for widespread use that are designed to reach different audiences, including communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
The campaign is under the theme of “It’s Up to You,” and is intended to ensure that Americans have accurate and timely information to answer their questions and concerns about vaccine side effects, efficacy and clinical trials to increase vaccine confidence.