ockefeller Foundation, in concert with the White House, the U.S. Department of Education [ED], and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], supporting a learning network for school and district leaders about how to start or strengthen COVID-19 screening testing programs.
Community-Based Testing Sites for COVID-19: Invites individuals to find a COVID-19 testing location near them, no matter what state they live in. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has established this on-line tool, indicating where COVID-19 tests are available at health centers and select pharmacies. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act ensures that COVID-19 testing is free to anyone in the U.S., including the uninsured. [Beyond those listed, additional testing sites may be available, so readers are advised to contact their health care providers or their state or local public health departments for more information.]
Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Provides the most recent/current CDC guidance on the appropriate use of testing for SARS-CoV-2 in light of additional testing capacity throughout the country. (This CDC guidance does not address decisions regarding payment for or insurance coverage for COVID-19 testing).
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update (01/03/22): FDA Takes Multiple Actions to Expand Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: Amends the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]’s emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to:
- Expand the use of a single booster dose to include use in individuals 12 through 15 years of age.
- Shorten the time between the completion of primary vaccination of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months.
- Allow for a third primary series dose for certain immunocompromised children 5 through 11 years of age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] updated its recommendations on 01/04/22 to conform to the new FDA authorizations.
Vaccines.gov: Serves as the federal government’s primary web-based source of information about COVID-19 vaccines, including a VaccineFinder tool to identify a vaccination administration site near any location in the US. This site is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC].
CDC Recommends Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 5 to 11 Years: Announces (11/02/21) endorsement by CDC director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ [ACIP] recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. CDC now expands vaccine recommendations to about 28 million children in the United States in this age group, and allows providers to begin vaccinating them as soon as possible. CDC announced that distribution of pediatric vaccinations across the country started this week, with plans to scale up to full capacity starting the week of November 8th. Vaccines will be available at thousands of pediatric healthcare provider offices, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and more.
Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People: Updates (07/27/21) official CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States. Within this update, CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status!
COVID-19 Vaccine: Serves as a hub for official CDC information about vaccine data, information on how to get vaccinated, Q&A, as well as clinical and professional resources. CDC now recommends that people whose immune systems are compromised moderately to severely should receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after the initial 2 doses> Read the 8/13/21 CDC Statement.
Biden-Harris Administration Makes 100% Federal Medicaid Matching Funds Available for State Expenditures on Certain COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling Visits for Children and Youth: Announces (12/02/21) new requirement for states