Rural Health
News by Topic: Public health
Sep 16, 2021 - The Census Bureau is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on proposed revisions to the Household Pulse Survey, which helps to inform on a range of topics related to households' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed revisions include modifications to questions relating to vaccinations that expand response options for the number of doses and brand of COVID-19 vaccine received, among other things. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
HHS: Ninth Amendment to Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19
Federal Register
Sep 14, 2021 - Notice of amendment from the Department of Health and Human Services to expand the scope of authority for licensed pharmacists to order and administer, and qualified pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns to administer, FDA authorized, approved, or licensed COVID-19 therapeutics. This amendment will be effective September 14, 2021.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 13, 2021 - Notice from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting an extension of an information collection titled "ASPA COVID-19 Public Education Campaign Evaluation Surveys," which includes the COVID-19 Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (CABS) and the Monthly Outcome Survey (MOS). Information collected will be used to determine whether the campaign is having the intended impact on target audiences' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs as they relate to COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccination, and adherence to preventative behaviors. Comments are due by November 12, 2021.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 13, 2021 - Reports on COVID-19 vaccination rates as of September 9, noting that the number of new immunizations declined over the last week. Offers rural and urban vaccination comparisons, with rural populations at 39.6% and metropolitan populations at 51.4% vaccinated. Provides data charts on rural vaccinations by week, state rankings, and state and county-level maps with vaccination data.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Sep 8, 2021 - Reports on rural COVID-19 vaccinations as of September 2, noting a 9% increase over 2 weeks. Provides county and state maps with vaccination data and a chart tracking metro and rural vaccination rates nationwide from mid-April to September 2.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Sep 7, 2021 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking comments on a proposed information collection project titled "National Wastewater Surveillance System for COVID-19." This proposed information collection project aims to collect SARS-CoV-2 wastewater and associated sewershed-level case data from participating jurisdictions in the United States to inform COVID-19 prevention and control efforts. Comments are due by November 8, 2021.
Source: Federal Register
FDA: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting; Establishment of a Public Docket; Request for Comments
Federal Register
Sep 7, 2021 - Notice from the Food and Drug Administration announcing a virtual meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on September 17, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Eastern. The agenda will include a discussion of the Pfizer-BioNTech supplemental Biologics License Application for COMIRNATY for the administration of a third dose, or "booster" dose, of the COVID-19 vaccine, in individuals 16 years of age and older. Includes information on how to submit public comments or request permission to make a public comment during the meeting. Registration is not required, and the meeting is open to the public, available online via a live webcast.
Source: Federal Register
HHS: Meeting of the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
Federal Register
Sep 7, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold a virtual public meeting on September 30, 2021, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern. The purpose of this meeting is to present and vote on the final recommendations for mitigating inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and for preventing such inequities in the future. The confirmed time and agenda will be published on the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force website.
Source: Federal Register
Sep 3, 2021 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces a single-source award to the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) and the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA). The purpose of this award is to increase COVID-19, influenza, and routine vaccines in adults with chronic medical conditions; increase workplace vaccination; and increase vaccination among adults working and residing in long-term care facilities through implementation of immunization quality improvement interventions.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 31, 2021 - Article discussing the challenging decision for hospitals to mandate or not mandate staff COVID-19 vaccination, highlighting workforce shortages in rural hospitals. Discusses the interdependence of different healthcare professions and the impacts of worker stress on hospital teams, noting that rural COVID-19 mortality rates were nearly 70% higher in rural compared to urban areas for the week of August 9-15.
Source: Kaiser Health News