County of Marin Health and Human Services

MCPH OPIC Newsletter #11 February 2024

MCPH OPIC Newsletter #11 February 2024
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OPIC Monthly Newsletter

Issue 11                                                                    February 14, 2024
Greetings from Marin County Public Health (MCPH) Outbreak Prevention and Infection Control (OPIC).
MCPH OPIC team supports healthcare and congregate care facilities mitigate and manage risks and prepare for emergencies. Our monthly newsletters include news, guidance, updates, trainings and educational opportunities for all levels of staff.
Dr. Lael Duncan, Marin County Deputy Public Health Officer, emphasizes the critical role of the RSV vaccine in long-term congregate settings, reducing the risk of infections and outbreaks. The RSV vaccine reduces the risk of serious illness by 80%. Residents are encouraged to request it from their doctor. Protect yourself and others.
Visit MarinHHS.org/Vaccine for more information.
Please share this video with your residents, their families, and your staff.

Guidance Updates from CDPH and CDC


Late Season Prevention of RSV 
Continue year-round to administer private-purchase supplies of RSV vaccines to adults aged 60 years and older. Do not discard unused doses of nirsevimab and RSV vaccines. RSV vaccines and Nirsevimab are expensive and have a lengthy shelf life, so unused doses can be saved for use this Fall. We encourage you to label remaining doses “Keep for Fall 2024.”  CDC updated guidance on nirsevimab use. 

Resources

CDPH - Public Health Officer, Dr. Aragón:  Letter to Directors and Administrators of Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) (1/19/2024):  This letter reviews the importance of vaccination for COVID-19, influenza, pneumococcal and RSV for residents. Article - COVID-19 behind thousands of excess US deaths, analysis shows, 2/7/2024

CDPH COVID-19 Testing and Communications Toolkit for General Public (updated 1/2024)
  

All Facilities Letters (AFLs) from CDPH

AFL 24-06  – Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act  (1/17/2024):  permitting medicinal cannabis use by patients over the age of 65 with a chronic disease in all Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), Congregate Living Health Facilities (CHLF), Special Hospitals (SH), Hospice Facilities (HOFA), and Home Health Agencies (HHAs).

AFL 24-03 – Health Information Disclosures (1/16/2024): notifies all licensed health care facilities of the chaptering of AB 352 (Chapter 255, Statutes of 2023), amending the Confidential Medical Information Act (CMIA) to prohibit disclosing or sharing of health information relating to sensitive services, including abortion and abortion-related care, with any individual or entity in another state. 
AFL 24-04 – Health Professionals and Facilities Adverse Actions Based on Another State’s Law (1/16/2024): informs facilities about protections for providers of sensitive services.​

AFL 24-02 - Annual Announcement: Online Application Period for Patient Needs Waiver (PNW) and Workforce Shortage Waiver (WSW)  (1/16/2024): the opening January 1, 2024 of the application period for SNFs requesting a Patient Needs Waiver (PNW) and Workforce Shortage Waiver (WSW) for fiscal year 2024-2025.

AFL 23-34 - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Recommendations for Clinically Eligible Individuals (11/13/2023) - reminds facilities of the importance of offering and encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations to clinically eligible individuals, especially those at highest risk of morbidity and mortality, at all interactions across the healthcare continuum.
AFL 23-36 - Recommendations for Prevention and Control of COVID-19, Influenza, and Other Respiratory Viral Infections in California Skilled Nursing Facilities – 2023-24 (12/5/2023)

View AFLs at the All Facilities Letter webpage.  

CDSS Updates

View PINs at the All COVID-19 ASC PINs by Topic webpage. 

To view published Email Blasts, visit the E-Blast webpage

Resources

*FREE*  COVID-19 Test Kits Allocation - LAST ORDERING OPPORTUNITY!

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) at-home testing program will end, effective February 29, 2024.  Eligible organizations, including LTCFs and SNFs, will be able to order at-home tests only before this date. Orders need to be placed before 2/29/24. Review test kit storage, expiration dates, and important info in the links below:
FREE Virtual Trainings
  • Free, online, Training for staff at LTACHs.
  • Free, online Training for staff at SNFS.
  • Toolkit for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) Training
  • Project Firstline Project Firstline Training Toolkit for EVS Staff
     
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Marin County Public Health's Monthly Updates for LTCFs provide updates regarding guidance, local data and surveillance, and training opportunities. Please contact LTCFReport@marincounty.org to be added to the meeting invitation. 

Next MCPH Monthly meeting is: Tuesday, February 27, 2:00-3:00 PM






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County of Marin · 3240 Kerner Blvd. · San Rafael, CA 94901 · USA

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