{"id":10416,"date":"2025-03-01T14:07:59","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:07:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan443\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:55:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:55:50","slug":"dhan443","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan443\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan443 ~  Delaware Health Alert #443  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan443.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->443 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->March 16, 2021 9:29 am <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; 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Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n\n              <\/div>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  \n\n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\nAlert<!--[END]-->\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\nExpanding Vaccine Eligibility to Persons with High and Moderate-Risk Health Conditions<!--[END]-->\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n<p>This Division of Public Health (DPH) is issuing this Health Alert to advise the medical community to prepare to vaccinate individuals with high and moderate-risk medical conditions for COVID-19. The State\u2019s official announcement will occur Tuesday to share the below information and additional highlights regarding its plans moving forward.\u00a0 On Wednesday March 17, the following guidance from the\u00a0state and DPH will be in effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Background<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>In moving to vaccinate more eligible persons, the state and DPH advise clinicians to expand vaccine delivery to their patients aged 16-64 with conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from SARS-CoV-2. The conditions reviewed by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the State&#8217;s Ethics Advisory Group include the following (but not all inclusive):<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Increased (high) risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n <li>Cancer<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Chronic Kidney Disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Diabetes Mellitus<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Down Syndrome<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Serious Heart Conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Obesity (body mass index of 30 kg\/m or higher)<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Sickle Cell Disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Current or Former Cigarette Smoker<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Intellectual or Developmental Disability<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Severe and Persistent Mental\/Behavioral Health Condition<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Pregnancy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Suspected increased (moderate) risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n <li>Asthma (moderate-to-severe)<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Cerebrovascular disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Cystic fibrosis<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Hypertension or high blood pressure<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Immunocompromised state\u00a0from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Neurologic conditions, such as dementia<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Liver disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Overweight (BMI > 25 kg\/m2, but < 30 kg\/m2)<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Pulmonary fibrosis<\/li>\n\n\n\n <li>Thalassemia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>No further guidance as to prioritization of these conditions will be forthcoming. Clinicians are advised to use clinical judgment and patient histories to make those determinations and deploy vaccine accordingly using the list above as guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Non-paid caregivers who care for persons with high-risk health conditions, especially those who require assistance with activities of daily living (such as meal preparation, dressing, grooming, medication monitoring, transportation and housekeeping), will also be eligible and identified using clinical judgment or guidance from the list above. Clinicians may vaccinate caregivers of their patients to decrease risk of serious illness for their high-risk patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Vaccine partners (e.g., pharmacies, urgent care centers or other walk-in clinics) that are unable to assess individual medical conditions to determine those at highest risk for COVID-19 disease burden, are being asked to vaccinate persons aged 50 years and older, regardless of medical, occupational, or other, factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Medical providers who are not enrolled in DelVAX to provide COVID-19 Vaccination are asked to refer eligible patients to a Delaware health system. Provider offices should bear the responsibility for collecting eligible patient names, and contact information (phone number and email if available) and sending referral requests by email to the health care system POCs. Providers who did not receive a list of health system contacts can reach out to Vaccine Planning at <a href=\"mailto:VaccinePlanning@delaware.gov\">VaccinePlanning@delaware.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n <li>COVID-19 Vaccines for People at Increased Risk for Severe Illness from COVID-19: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/recommendations\/specific-groups\/high-risk.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/recommendations\/specific-groups\/high-risk.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n     <li>Vaccination Strategies For High-Risk Adults: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/hcp\/adults\/for-practice\/highrisk-strat.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/hcp\/adults\/for-practice\/highrisk-strat.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n\n       <\/div>\n\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n\n      <ul>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div> \n\n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #443 March 16, 2021 9:29 am Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10416","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10416"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11592,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10416\/revisions\/11592"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}