[MaineSchoolNurse] Fw: Masking and Vaccination in Health Care Facilities During Increased Respiratory Virus Activity

Thu Jan 18 17:21:19 EST 2024

Hello-

Please see the attached Maine Health Alert Network (HAN) received today regarding increased prevalence of respiratory illness in our communities.  Masking and immunizations continue to be effective preventative health measures at keeping respiratory illness rates manageable.  We wanted to make sure all school nurses are receiving this HAN from the Maine CDC regarding the expected peak.

If you are not already subscribed, you may want to consider signing up for the HAN where important health related messages will be received via your email inbox.  Please use this link to register: https://www.mainehan.org/

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Sarah DeCato, MSN, RN, NCSN (She/Her)
School Nurse Specialist-Coordinated School Health
Office of School and Student Supports
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: sarah.decato at maine.gov<mailto:sarah.decato at maine.gov>
Phone: 207-441-3812
Maine DOE<http://www.maine.gov/doe> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/mdoenews> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en> | Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/> |Maine Guidelines for School<https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines> <https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines> Health<https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines>

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From: Maine Health Alert Network <7aeec8c5-0005-3002-80c0-fceb55463ffe at notify2.mir3.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2024 2:46 PM
To: DeCato, Sarah <Sarah.DeCato at maine.gov>
Subject: Masking and Vaccination in Health Care Facilities During Increased Respiratory Virus Activity

EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside of the State of Maine Mail System. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Respiratory virus transmission in the United States has increased in recent weeks and is expected to peak in coming weeks, leading to more infections, serious illness, hospitalizations, and deaths as well as more health care workers out of work due to illness. When there is higher respiratory virus transmission, health care facilities should implement policies requiring staff to wear appropriate masks or respirators for source control and infection control either during patient interactions or at all times inside facilities. Health care facilities should also consider requiring COVID-19 vaccine for patient-facing staff alongside the existing state requirements for influenza vaccine.

Comprehensive infection prevention and control policies, including masking and vaccination, protect staff, patients, residents, and visitors. Health care facilities should consider these demonstrated risk-reduction measures as they adapt to the shifting community situation. Masking protects the wearer and others around them against respiratory virus infections. Vaccines provide the best protection against severe illness. The Maine CDC remains dedicated to preventing severe disease and death from respiratory viral illnesses, particularly for populations at higher risk, and continues to work to reduce their impacts.

A FULL VERSION OF THIS ADVISORY IS ATTACHED IN .PDF FORMAT.

Thank you,
Maine Health Alert Network
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