Upcoming COVID-19 data and resource changes

DOH will make changes to COVID-19 data systems after the national Public Health Emergency Declaration ends May 11. These changes to data collection and resources are coming:

• CDC COVID-19 community levels will no longer be calculated after May 11. CDC has communicated that they are developing a replacement metric; we do not have any further information on the replacement metric at this time.
• CDC COVID-19 transmission levels (primarily used for healthcare facilities) will no longer be calculated after May 11. Based on current information, CDC will not create a replacement metric for transmission levels.

Related DOH Digest article: COVID-19 notification tool WA Notify to sunset May 11

Resources

CDC updated the following resources for COVID-19 vaccines to align with the new recommendations. The new FDA authorization and CDC recommendations allow providers to begin using bivalent mRNA vaccines to support primary vaccinations, as well as an extra dose for certain adults:

• Interim Clinical Considerations
• Vaccine Related Codes

DOH released updated signed standing orders that reflect this change:

• Moderna 6 years through 11 years (PDF)
• Moderna 12 years of age and older (PDF)
• Pfizer-BioNTech 5 though 11 years (PDF)
• Pfizer-BioNTech 12 years of age and older (PDF)

Signed standing orders can be found on the Clinical Information for COVID-19 Vaccine Providers page.

Note, after May 11, DOH will no longer release signed standing orders for COVID-19 vaccines. As a result of the end of the Public Health Emergency, DOH will not have authority to release signed COVID-19 vaccine standing orders. Consequently, all state COVID-19 vaccine standing orders will not be valid after May 11.