**4/4/2022: Updated to include new vaccine booster information. See red text below for update.**
Actions Requested
- Be aware, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup have endorsed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization of a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for specific groups. These second boosters are particularly important for people over 65 and for people over 50 with certain underlying medical conditions. These changes now allow:
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 50 and older and for people 12 and older who are immune compromised at least 4 months after their first booster dose.
- A second booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 50 and older and people 18 and older who are immune compromised at least 4 months after their first booster dose.
- Following newly published data, a second booster dose of either Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the primary and first booster dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for people 18 years or older.
- Be aware, on April 5, 2022, at 8:59 pm PT, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program will stop accepting vaccine administration claims due to lack of sufficient funds. Testing and treatment claims ended March 22.
- Federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, free clinics, public hospital districts, behavioral health providers or facilities, behavioral health administrative service organizations, and community-based organizations can apply to receive federal resources for health care services provided to uninsured and underinsured individuals living under 200% of the federal poverty level, regardless of immigration status through the Health Care Authority Uninsured Care Expansion Grant. Submit your application before April 15, 2022 at 5 pm.
- Be aware, the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and WA Dept. of Health (DOH) are offering a 3-month Quality Improvement Project to help clinics with their pediatric vaccine strategies and workflows (see additional information below).
- Be aware, on March 4, DOH discontinued ordering of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine due to extremely limited inventory at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Washington Immunization Information System (IIS). Providers are encouraged to post and look for excess doses in the Vaccine Advertisement Page in the IIS. Email DOH questions and concerns to COVID.vaccine@doh.wa.gov.
- Be aware of the most recent DOH updates to guidance for healthcare settings.
- Key updates include:
- Residents not up to date with vaccines with exposure should quarantine for 10 days or 7 days with a negative test.
- Persons with COVID-19 should not visit healthcare settings for 10 days.
- Visitors not up to date with vaccines should not visit healthcare facilities until 10 days from COVID exposure or 7 days with a negative test.
- Updated DOH guidance:
- Interim COVID-19 Outbreak Definition for Healthcare Settings.
- Interim Guidance for Long-Term Care: Transferring between long-term care and other healthcare settings.
- Preventing transmission of SARS-COV-2 during aerosol generating and other procedures.
- Long-term care facility testing for staff and residents.
- Recommendations for cohorting in long-term care facilities during a COVID-19 outbreak.
- Outdoor visitation guidance for long-term care settings.
- COVID-19 visitor guidance for inpatient hospital and outpatient settings.
- Key updates include:
- Strongly recommend patients get COVID-19 vaccine. You are patients’ most trusted source of vaccine information.
- Educate patients on how to access, use and interpret at-home antigen test kits.
- Direct patients to COVID-19 testing sites in Kitsap County.
- Note that Kitsap community drive-through testing sites are closed due to low demand
- Advise patients to order tests from:
- WA state government at www.sayyescovidhometest.org or by calling 800-525-0127. Check back if tests are unavailable. This site is restocked frequently.
- US federal government at www.covidtests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233.
- Teach patients how to care for themselves at home with mild to moderate illness and when to access emergency departments for care.
- Teach patients how to care for themselves at home with mild to moderate illness and when to access emergency departments for care.
- Report COVID-19 and other notifiable conditions to Kitsap Public Health 24/7 by calling 360-728-2235 or use the Reportable Disease Fax Form and fax to 360-813-1168 with any corresponding lab results.
COVID-19 Situation Update
As of March 31, Kitsap County has had 39,305 cases of COVID-19 and 335 deaths from COVID-19. Our seven-day case rate of 41.9 per 100,000 shows a slight increase from last week and is a deviation from the recent downward trend. Note, it has been 19 days since the statewide mask mandate transitioned to a mask recommendation for many indoor settings. During the week ending March 26, we had 4 new COVID-19 hospitalizations among Kitsap residents. In the past 180 days, unvaccinated people ages 12-59 were 5.1 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than those fully vaccinated; 2.9 times more likely for those age 60 and older.
As of March 31, 77.2% of Kitsap County residents have initiated vaccination. Over 92,000 (34.2%) Kitsap residents have received an additional or booster vaccine dose. As of March 31, only 36% of children aged 5-11 have initiated vaccination. All subcounty areas of Kitsap County have at least 70% vaccination initiation rates among those age 12 and older. Differences in vaccination initiation rates persist across race/ethnicity groups, the gap between highest and lowest rate is 41%.
The chart below shows our most recent case rate, vaccination rate and COVID-19 cases trend over the last three months:
Resources
- COVID-19 vaccine clinical considerations, CDC
- COCA call slides, CDC.
- Epidemiology of myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA vaccines in Ontario, Canada, Buchan, et. al.
- Booster dose updates, FDA.
- Emergency use authorization (EUA) fact sheets for recipients and caregivers:
- COVID-19 vaccine locator, DOH.
- COVID-19 vaccine for providers, Kitsap Public Health District.
- COVID-19 vaccine provider toolkit and resources, DOH.
- COVID-19 vaccination for providers, CDC.
- Clinical considerations for COVID-19 vaccination and guidance for managing anaphylaxis, CDC.
- COVID-19 vaccine quick reference guide for healthcare professionals, CDC.
- COVID-19 vaccine training module on best practices for providers, CDC.
- COVID-19 Case, Hospitalizations and Deaths by Vaccination Status, DOH.
COVID-19 Testing
- K–12 test requirements to return to school.
- Antigen test guidance, CDC.
- For help with questions or accessing resources, contact Kitsap Public Health at (360) 728-2235.
COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Quality Improvement Project in Pediatric Primary Care
The Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Washington State Department of Health are working to improve COVID-19 vaccination in pediatric primary care settings statewide, and WCAAP is offering a 3-month Quality Improvement project to help clinics:
- Improve immunization workflows to reduce missed opportunities.
- Consistently assess COVID-19 vaccine status and offer vaccine.
- Ensure consistent communication and messaging across all clinic team members.
- Emphasize pediatric primary care as a resource for reliable and accurate information for families.
Participating staff and providers will receive process improvement coaching and training, and clinics will receive a stipend of $1,500-2,500. Learn more here or email DeAnna Dudley at ddudley@wcaap.org to ask questions or join the project.
COVID-19 Therapeutics
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocates monoclonal antibody and oral antiviral supplies to each state. DOH distributes doses to enrolled providers. Providers must enroll in Healthcare Partner Ordering Portal (HPoP) to manage COVID-19 therapeutics. Email mcm@doh.wa.gov to register for HPoP training, held Tuesdays at 9 a.m.
- To find available doses in your area, see HHS’ COVID-19 therapeutics locator.
- To request a supply of monoclonal antibodies or therapeutics, complete a smart sheet.
- Find more resources in the COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapeutics communication toolkit or on DOH’s therapeutics for providers page.
- Follow NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines.
COVID-19 Prevention Patient Education
Share with patients:
- What to do if you test positive for COVID-19.
- What to do if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Contacting the Health District
- Call (360) 728-2235 and leave a message. Includes reporting notifiable conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Leave the patient’s name, date of birth and disease.
- Fax (360) 813-1168.
Additional Resources