News & Updates
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for Children 5-11 Years
Background: On May 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This amendment authorizes administration of a single...
CDC and Health Partners Responding to Monkeypox Case in the U.S
Summary On May 20, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians, hospitals, laboratories and public health authorities...
Updates to COVID-19 Laboratory Reporting Requirements
Background: Entities in Nevada that have performed or analyzed a test intended to detect SARS-CoV-2 or to diagnose a possible case of COVID-19 have been mandated to report all results...
Developing and maintaining written plans that balance access to care, staffing shortages and infection control.
Background: COVID-19 has highlighted some risks involved in resident care, particularly in skilled nursing facilities and other congregate living settings. There are several competing priorities, and it is difficult to...
Update: COVID-19 Point of Care Antigen Testing in Community Settings
Background: Point of care (POC) COVID-19 antigen tests are one testing option available to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Antigen tests are immunoassays that detect the presence of a specific...
Clinical Laboratory Submission to State and Local Public Health Laboratories
Background Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 441A.235 requires clinical/medical laboratories to submit microbiological cultures, subcultures, or other specimens or clinical material to the State Public Health Laboratory or other laboratory designated...
Updated Tuberculosis (TB) Testing Recommendations Around COVID-19 Vaccinations
Situation: On August 31, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its interim guidance on clinical considerations for use of the COVID-19 vaccines and included guidance on...
New Immunization Exemption Requirement for Nevada Child Care Facilities and Accommodation Facilities
Amendments to NAC 432A were adopted by the State Board of Health on December 10, 2020 and adopted by the Legislative Commission on January 5, 2021. The new immunization exemption...
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)
The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health- Office of HIV is collaborating with the Southern Nevada Health District, Washoe County District, and Carson City Health and Human Services to...
COVID-19 Sequencing Update-Laboratories to Submit all Positive SARS-CoV-2 Samples to the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory
Background: Viruses are constantly changing, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.2 Genomic sequencing of all positive cases identified in Nevada through molecular-based tests will provide more complete data on...
Public Health Considerations for COVID-19 At-Home Test Kit
Background: The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several COVID-19 at-home test kits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated public guidance for the use of...
Expedited Partner Therapy
Situation Nationally since 2014, the number of reported chlamydia and gonorrhea cases has continued to rise. In 2019, Nevada ranked 17th in the United States for its chlamydia rate with...