Recent CDC, NHSN and FDA COVID-19 Updates

Posted in COVID-19, Senior Living

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare

If you missed the July 12, 2021 NHSN webinar with the information on the upcoming modifications to the Facility COVID-19 Module, NHSN has posted the 30-slide handout.

There’s a lot of information on these slides so be sure you/your team reviews the handout and the video.

As of this blog, the corresponding video has yet to be posted.  You can watch for the video as well as check out the other NHSN resources here.  NHSN has posted a lot of information with July 8, 2021 dates.

On July 13, 2021, the FDA announced revisions to the vaccine recipient and vaccination provider fact sheets for the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine to include information pertaining to an observed increased risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following vaccination.

The Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) has been revised to include a warning about GBS and the Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers has been revised to include information about GBS. The warning in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine notes that reports of adverse events suggest an increased risk of GBS. Additionally, the Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers notes that vaccine recipients should seek medical attention right away if they develop any of the following symptoms after receiving the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine: weakness or tingling sensations, especially in the legs or arms, that’s worsening and spreading to other parts of the body; difficulty walking; difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing; double vision or inability to move eyes; or difficulty with bladder control or bowel function.

The FDA hosted a webinar on July 13, 2021 to share information and answer questions about revocation of EUAs for non-NIOSH-approved respirators and decontamination systems.  Specifically, the FDA will present information about the June 30, 2021, Update: FDA No Longer Authorizes Use of Non-NIOSH-Approved or Decontaminated Disposable Respirators – Letter to Health Care Personnel and Facilities.  Additional information can be found here, including the 11-slide webinar handout and previous webinars.