January 4, 2022 CDC Isolation and Quarantine Updates As of Monday, December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is shortening the recommended time for isolation for the public. People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. COVID-19 Exposure The CDC has updated the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19. Additional Information Individuals should refer to the CDC website for updated information on protocols following a COVID-19 exposure or positive test.
December 24, 2021 COVID-19 Added to List of Reportable Communicable Diseases The Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Health (DOH) has added COVID-19 to the list of reportable communicable diseases for child care programs. About PA DOH requires that COVID-19 be reported within 24 hours. A link to the updated list of reportable diseases is provided at: PA Dept of Health reportable diseases. After a child or facility person contracts or is showing symptoms of a communicable disease or infection, the child care provider must exclude that person from the facility and must receive notification from a physician or a nurse practitioner (CRNP) that the person is no longer considered a threat to the health of others before the child or facility person may return to the facility. Any child or facility person reporting positive test results or showing symptoms of COVID-19 can’t be in attendance at the child care facility. Upon return, the individual must provide a written note or a negative test result signed and verified by a physician or nurse practitioner (CRNP) clearing them to return to the child care facility. A home test or any other negative test results that have not been reviewed, signed and verified by a physician or CRNP will not be acceptable for a child or a facility person to return to the child care facility. More Information For details, read the Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) announcement.
December 13, 2021 2021 State of Child Welfare Report Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children has released their 2021 State of Child Welfare Report, which raises concerns about the need to strengthen the child welfare system. Data was collected in 2020, highlighting only the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report shows a decrease in child protective services reporting and the number of children placed in foster care statewide. Report Findings In 2020 there were 32,919 CPS reports, which was a 22% decline in reports from 2019, but the substantiation of reports was the highest in the last five years, with 14% of reports being investigated and found to be true. Notably, stay-at-home orders, moving to virtual learning, and less contact with medical professionals created a significant decrease in mandated reporting trends during the year for which the most recent data is available. While substantiation rates did increase, data from 2021 will be significant to see how trends shift as schools resumed in-person instruction. There was subsequently more interaction between mandated reporters, such as teachers, with children and families. We anticipate the 2021 data will show an increase in referrals and a potential decrease in substantiation as the system struggles to respond to the needs of children experiencing abuse and neglect during an unprecedented time of crisis. In 2020, 21,689 children were served in the Pennsylvania foster care system, a 12% decrease in the total population from the prior year. Fewer referrals being made by mandated reporters means fewer occasions to identify abuse leading to placement. Additional Information The full 2021 State of Child Welfare report, as well as a snapshot for each county, can be viewed on the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children website.
December 8, 2021 Webinar – COVID-19 Vaccines for School-Aged Children: What Parents and Families Should Know Join NAFSCE and the U.S. Department of Education on December 9 at 8:00pm, ET for an informational webinar following the official approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech age 5-11 vaccine. Registration for this virtual event is available online. During the webinar, panelists including United States Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, along with representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, will join NAFSCE Executive Director, Vito Borrello for a series of presentations and constructive conversation to support parents and families as they consider the COVID-19 vaccine for their child(ren). Parents and caregivers can learn more about the following questions: How was the vaccine developed? How many children participated in the study for approval? Will my child(ren) be safe taking the vaccine? What are the side effects? Should my child(ren) get the vaccine? Where can I take my child to get the vaccine? Parents are invited to submit questions about the vaccine on the registration form. Pre-submitted questions will help plan the content of the session. Time will also be reserved for live questions and answers at the end of the event.
Webinar – What Early Care and Education Staff Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 5-11 Join ACF Office of Early Childhood Development and pediatric experts to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11. This webinar will provide information about this new way to protect children from serious illness due to COVID-19. Explore strategies to address parental concerns about vaccine safety and how programs can support families to make informed decisions about choosing to vaccinate their children. Registration for this virtual event is available online.
November 10, 2021 Homewood Community Vaccination Clinic Join Pitt Community Engagement Center in Homewood and Homewood Children’s Village for a free vaccination clinic. No appointments are needed, and walk-ins are welcome. Booster shots and flu shots are also available. Location Pitt CEC in Homewood 622 N. Homewood Avenue Dates and Times November 15 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. November 16 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. November 18 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. November 19 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Additional Information Additional information is available on the Pitt CEC website, or by calling 412.383.4372
FDA Authorizes COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use for Children Five to 11 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include children five through 11 years of age. The authorization was based on the FDA’s thorough and transparent evaluation of the data that included input from independent advisory committee experts who overwhelmingly voted in favor of making the vaccine available to children in this age group. About the COVID-19 Vaccine The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children five through 11 years of age is administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart, but is a lower dose (10 micrograms) than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms). In the U.S., COVID-19 cases in children five through 11 years of age make up 39% of cases in individuals younger than 18 years of age. According to the CDC, approximately 8,300 COVID-19 cases in children five through 11 years of age resulted in hospitalization. As of Oct. 17, 691 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the U.S. in individuals less than 18 years of age, with 146 deaths in the five through 11 years age group. Pfizer Inc. has updated its safety monitoring plan to include evaluation of myocarditis, pericarditis and other events of interest in children five through 11 years of age. In addition, the FDA and the CDC have several systems in place to continually monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety and allow for the rapid detection and investigation of potential safety problems. Additional Information Additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine can be found on the FDA website.
October 20, 2021 2021 Children’s Mental Health Report In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Child Mind Institute recently released a report on children’s mental health. This report examines ongoing research, including a survey of thousands of parents conducted by Child Mind Institute. Additional Information Key takeaways from the report include: Children’s moods during the pandemic were most closely related to the lifestyle changes they’d experienced. Children’s mental health three months before the pandemic began was the factor more closely correlated with their mental health during the pandemic. There is a connection between economic hardship and mental health outcomes. The full report can be accessed on the Child Mind Institute website. Additionally, tips for caregivers and educators on how to support mental health and learning are available for download.
September 29, 2021 Who Is Eligible for a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot? According to the CDC, data from a small clinical trial show that a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot increased the immune response in trial participants who finished their primary series 6 months earlier. With an increased immune response, people should have improved protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant. Eligibility COVID-19 Vaccine booster shots are available for the following Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their initial series at least 6 months ago: 65 years and older 18+ who have underlying medical conditions 18+ who work in high-risk settings 18+ who live in high-risk settings Schedule an Appointment Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you. Additionally, you may: Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available. Contact your state or local health department for more information. Additional Information For additional information related to COVID-19, visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.
September 22, 2021 Ask a Health Care Provider Join the Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative and the Pittsburgh Community Vaccine Collaborative for an evening with medical professionals to discuss back-to-school questions surrounding COVID-19 safety, mitigation, and vaccines. More Information The presentation will be multilingual in Spanish, French, Russian, Swahili, Arabic, and English. If you need a different language/interpreter please email Dr. Kait Brennan at kaitlynbrennan88@gmail.com who can assist with accommodations. To register for this virtual event, please complete the online registration form.
