COVID-19

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) recently announced the release of the final Sunstorm Story for 2023. In collaboration with Foundations for Divergent Minds, Seeded Ground, and the John Hopkins’ Disability Health Research Center, Sunstorm Stories are a collection of short narrative videos that reflect on Covid’s lingering impact on the disability community, particularly those who are also Black, Indigenous, and other Leaders of Color. Throughout the series, featured storytellers offer messages of solidarity while also urging medical professionals to meaningfully improve inclusion, enhance access, and prevent discriminatory treatment.

On November 17, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its intent to create a Federal Advisory Committee on Long COVID. Nominations for committee membership are open until January 16, 2024, with HHS inviting individuals directly impacted by Long COVID, healthcare practitioners, researchers, and representatives from related sectors to apply. The Committee will bring perspectives from outside the Government to help inform action of the Executive Branch on Long COVID and associated conditions, with a focus on health equity. The Committee will consist of up to 20 members, including any Chair, Vice Chair, or Co-Chairs...

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) has launched a new online tool to assist individuals with disabilities in locating local services and resources to support community living. Initially established in 2021 as a national hotline to support individuals with disabilities in obtaining COVID-19 vaccinations, DIAL has expanded its services to encompass housing assistance, accessible transportation, legal aid, and more. This updated website now offers a 24/7 search-by-zip code option to find local services and resources. DIAL will also continue to provide vital information and resources related to COVID-19 vaccinations, helping individuals find vaccination locations...

On August 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), awarded over $1.4 billion for Project NextGen to support the development of a new generation of tools and technologies to protect against COVID-19. Project NextGen, a $5 billion initiative led by ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), coordinates across the federal government and the private sector to advance innovative vaccines and therapeutics into clinical trials, regulatory review, and potential commercial availability for the American people...

To aid federal agencies prepare for future public health emergencies, the GAO released a report detailing findings and recommendations from the agency’s COVID-19 oversight reports spanning from April 2022 through April 2023. This report includes several key data updates and five enclosures that summarize and highlight standalone reports issued from April 2022 through April 2023 on public health preparedness, improper payments and fraud, vulnerable populations, distribution of federal COVID-19 funding, and COVID-19 and the economy...

On July 13th, HHS released a letter directed to COVID-19 manufacturers regarding the transition of vaccines to more traditional pathways and the upcoming 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The letter states that HHS expects vaccines will remain available following the transition in current locations, such as pharmacies and clinics, and priced at reasonable rates. HHS expects vaccine manufacturers that plan to offer the updated COVID-19 vaccines prepare a sufficient supply of doses for the upcoming vaccination campaign...

Paxlovid is an antiviral treatment for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms at high risk of becoming seriously ill, including adults 65 and up. It is important for older adults to consider a treatment plan before becoming infected, as Paxlovid could have complications with other drugs and should be evaluated by a medical provider. This article provides more information about Paxlovid and suggests ways older adults can prepare a treatment plan in advance of catching the new COVID-19 variant.

On Friday, November 11, 2022 HHS announced that it will again extend the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Based on commitments to provide at least 60 days’ notice prior to allowing the PHE to lapse, HHS had until Saturday, November 12, to provide states with notice that the PHE would either be extended or end in January. This means that unwinding protocol will not yet begin, and that the PHE policies such as Medicaid FMAP increases; continuous eligibility; and the 1135, Appendix K, and Emergency SPAs will remain in effect.

The Nutrition and Aging Resource Center has partnered with the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) to conduct a survey of local senior nutrition providers and area agencies on aging on the status of successfully reopened congregate meal sites after the COVID-19 pandemic. The input from this survey will be used to develop webinars, trainings, and other resources that will be housed in the Resource Center in order to share best practices.

KFF’s new state Medicaid budget survey anticipates Medicaid enrollment will begin to decline in FY 2023, following the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The 22nd annual survey finds that states expect growth in Medicaid enrollment to slow to 8.4 percent in FY 2022 (down from 11.2 percent the previous year) before declining by 0.4 percent in FY 2023.