WHEC reports the announcement came from an attorney for the state to the Fourth Appellate Court just before the court was to hear oral arguments connected to a lawsuit challenging the mandate.

The attorney said the Department of Health will no longer enforce the mandate and will soon send guidance to hospitals and health care facilities.

The State Department of Health issued a statement that said, “Due to the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving vaccine recommendations, the New York State Department of Health has begun the process of repealing the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for workers at regulated health care facilities. Throughout the public health emergency, this vaccine requirement served as a critical public health tool, helping to protect both health care workers and the patients under their care. As the repeal of this regulation awaits consideration for approval by the Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC), the Department will not commence any new enforcement actions. However, it should be noted that facilities should continue to implement their own internal policies regarding COVID-19 vaccination.”

Governor Kathy Hochul discusses upper respiratory viruses on the rise

The New York State Department of Health is warning that COVID-19, Seasonal Flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases are rising in the state.

Health officials say as respiratory virus infections spread this fall and are expected to continue through the winter, they’re urging people to take steps to help stop the spread.

Earlier this fall, the State Department of Health (DOH) issued a Health Advisory Notice regarding respiratory illnesses to hospitals, local health departments, and other medical facilities. While not specific to any one virus, the notice highlighted increased hospitalizations from these types of illnesses and provides federal resources.

Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Our best shot at protecting ourselves and fellow New Yorkers from respiratory illnesses continues to be getting vaccinated, staying up to date on boosters, and practicing good hygiene.”

The flu vaccine is available to anyone 6 months or older, and is strongly recommended for people with chronic diseases, young children, and individuals who are pregnant – all of whom have a higher risk of developing serious complications from influenza.

Health officials say the best defense against respiratory viruses is to receive the seasonal flu and COVID vaccines, stay up to date on COVID-19 boosters, practice social distancing, wear masks in crowded settings, and use proper hygiene, including frequent hand washing.

The Department of Health is monitoring regional hospital capacity and engaging hospital and health care systems that may be seeing larger than normal patient volumes in their emergency departments and inpatient units. If you are sick and exhibiting symptoms of a respiratory virus, consult your primary care provider.

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

The new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster is now available in Chautauqua County.

Chautauqua County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler issued a statement saying booster doses are common for many vaccines and that updated formulations are sometimes needed to provide the best protection against new variants of a virus.

The updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the CDC is designed to protect against original strains of the virus, which the former monovalent vaccines covered, and the Omicron variants that account for the majority of current new infections.

Schuyler said those who are eligible should get a new booster dose at least two months after completing their primary series or at least two months after receiving a booster. Pfizer’s updated booster dose is recommended for individuals 12 and older and Moderna’s updated booster dose is recommended for adults 18 and older.

The link for pharmacies offering the booster dose is available here:
https://chqgov.com/public-health/novel-coronavirus-covid-19

The Health Department is also offering bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to individuals ages 12 and older at the Health Department Office in Mayville, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You are asked to call (716) 753-4491 to schedule an appointment.

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

Masks are now optional on public transit, public shelters, and correctional facilities in New York State.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced masking requirements will remain in effect at state-regulated health care facilities, adult care facilities, and clinical settings.

She said the state will continue following COVID-19 data and will adjust policies as needed.

Hochul also announced that the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters are now available in New York State. These boosters are designed to add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants and bolster previous vaccination protection. The announcement follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s recommendation to use updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for anyone age 12 or older and from Moderna for those 18 or older.

To be eligible to receive the updated booster, individuals must have completed their original vaccine series or received a booster at least two months before.

New Yorkers should contact their regular health care provider, local pharmacy, or local county health department about getting the booster. New Yorkers can also visit vaccines.gov, text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby vaccination locations.

Hochul said in the coming weeks, the CDC is expected to announce updated COVID-19 boosters for younger pediatric groups. Until then, the monovalent mRNA Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine remains authorized for use as boosters in children ages 5 through 11 and for all primary series vaccinations.

According to the New York State COVID-19 Testing Tracker, Chautauqua County’s seven-day average positivity rate is 12.5%. The CDC Community Level is now at medium. At this level, the CDC recommends wearing a mask if you have symptoms of COVID-19, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID. They also recommend wearing a mask on public transportation.

The new shots target both the original strain of the coronavirus and the omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants that most people are catching now. This new vaccine is called a bivalent vaccine.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in people 18 and older.

The Pfizer-BioNTech booster is authorized for people 12 years and up. People are eligible for the new boosters two months after completing their initial vaccination or their last booster shot.

The federal government plans to make the boosters available starting next week. Public health officials hope they will help contain a possible fall and winter surge.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer) for everyone 6 months and older. The CDC said the benefit of COVID-19 vaccines, like other vaccines, is that those vaccinated get protection without risking the potentially serious consequences of getting sick with COVID-19. Vaccinating children can also help relieve the strain on families by providing greater confidence in children participating in childcare, school, and other activities, as well as minimizing the spread of COVID-19 to older or immunocompromised loved ones.

The Chautauqua County Health Department clinics will offer Moderna vaccine for all age groups. Moderna is a two-shot series with the second dose occurring 4 weeks after the first dose.

The clinics will be held at Jamestown Community College’s Carnahan Building from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on July 13 and August 10; and at SUNY Fredonia’s Steele Hall from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on July 14 and August 11.

Pre-registration is required for the clinics. The registration link can be found here: https://bit.ly/CHQCOVIDVax. People may also register by calling 1-866-604-6789 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Parent or legal guardian consent is required for the vaccination of minors. If a parent or guardian is unable to accompany their child, they can designate another adult to consent on their behalf in writing, which must include the name and date of birth of the child, the name and signature of the parent or guardian, and the name of designee. Photo identification and masks will be required.

COVID-19 Vaccines are also available at the Health Department’s Mayville office by appointment, and parents may also contact their pediatrician, family health care provider, or pharmacist to inquire about the vaccine. A list of pharmacies that provide the vaccine to this population will be maintained on the County website, chqgov.com.

An independent panel of advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Saturday to recommend vaccinating all children in the age group with one of two separate COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky quickly endorsed the recommendation, the final step before the vaccines could be rolled out.

During a two-day meeting starting Friday, the panelists reviewed data from clinical trials by both pharmaceutical companies, as well data on the need for vaccines for this age group.

According to the CDC, as of May 28, more than 400 children 0 to 4 years old have died due to COVID.

Dr. Matthew Daley, speaking at the meeting Friday, said, “Among people ages 1-4, COVID is fifth most common cause of all causes of death.”

He said data from older children and adults show that vaccination prevents death. In fact, he added, among people 5 years and older, the unvaccinated are 10 times more likely to die from COVID than the vaccinated.

The vaccine made by Moderna for 6-month-olds to 5-year-olds is a two-dose series, given four weeks apart. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 6-month-olds to 4-year-olds is a three-dose series. The first two shots are given three weeks apart, and the third one eight weeks after the second shot.

Many providers across the country have already pre-ordered the vaccine and can start administering it as early as this week.

COVID-19 vaccines

The Food and Drug Administration‘s Advisory Committee approved amending the Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to expand to children ages six months through five years old. Next, the Food and Drug Administration will make a final decision on authorization of the vaccine, followed by recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement saying once the vaccine is recommended by the CDC Director, the State Department of Health will draft and issue guidance to providers.

Hochul said New York State is already making preparations to boost vaccination rates among children under the age of five with vaccine providers across the state already placing preliminary orders for 39,000 dosages. She added the State Department of Health is working to ensure providers across the state will be able to request additional doses, as well as developing a comprehensive statewide paid media campaign to encourage vaccinations that will launch this summer.

The panel of outside vaccine experts voted 21-0 with one abstention in favor of the vaccine for those 18 and older after discussing whether the shot’s benefits outweigh risks, including rare occurrences of heart inflammation that may be associated with the vaccine.

If the FDA follows the recommendation and authorizes the shot, it will be the fourth COVID vaccine available for use in adults in the United States. The FDA has approved previous COVID shots within days of panel votes, with distribution quickly following.

Novavax Chief Commercial Officer John Trizzino says he hopes to have the product available in the U.S. by the end of June.

Novavax’s shot, which is already available in over 40 countries, is a more traditional type of vaccine employing technology that has been used for decades to combat diseases like influenza.

Before shots can be administered, the FDA must authorize the vaccine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to green light its use.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement on Monday that it is coordinating with Novavax “to receive a limited quantity of vaccine and will make that vaccine available to the American public” once those steps are complete. A CDC panel may consider the Novavax shots late next week.

Novavax filed for U.S. authorization in late January, almost a year behind its original plan, following development and manufacturing problems.

The authorization makes all children in that age group who received their second shot at least five months ago eligible to receive a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The companies requested the authorization based on a small study that the companies and FDA said demonstrated a third shot is safe and can significantly boost antibody levels, countering waning immunity and providing added protection against the virus, including the more contagious omicron variant.

Until now, only children ages 12 and older and adults were eligible for a booster.

It remains unclear how much of a demand there will be for the boosters. Less than a third of children ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated, and only about a quarter of adolescents have received a booster.

Many doctors and parents have been hoping for the authorization, saying it’s important to provide children with as much protection as possible, especially as the number of people catching the virus is rising again and so few people are now wearing masks.

The FDA didn’t ask its outside advisers for input on the decision because the agency said the committee had previously discussed the issues and no new questions were raised.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s advisers on vaccine practices will meet Thursday and are expected to discuss implementation of a booster dose for this age group.