Connections (November-December 2022)

Recent hepatitis A outbreaks mark a shift in hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection epidemiology in the United States. Whereas HAV transmission was previously associated with international travel and exposure to foodborne outbreaks, drug use (both injection and noninjection) was the predominant risk factor associated with HAV transmission during recent outbreaks. An article published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) describes widespread hepatitis A outbreaks associated with person-to-person transmission during 2016–2020. Despite long-standing vaccine recommendations, many adults at increased risk for HAV infection remain vulnerable to infection.

Summary Sources

• Foster MA, Hofmeister MG, Yin S, Montgomery MP, Weng MK, Eckert M, Nelson NP, Mermin J, Wester C, Teshale EH, Gupta N, Cooley LA; Hepatitis A Response Team. Widespread hepatitis A outbreaks associated with person-to-person transmission—United States, 2016–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71(39):1229–34.

Response Headlines

CDC expands updated COVID-19 vaccines to include children ages 5 through 11. Read CDC’s media statement.

CDC Allows Novavax Monovalent COVID-19 Boosters for Adults Ages 18 and Older. Read CDC’s media statement.

CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health’s (DASH)  New Success Stories

DASH has published new success stories that show what schools are doing to implement health education, provide health services, and create safe and supportive environments for students.  Read the stories on the Healthy Youth website.

CDC’s Division HIV Prevention (DHP)’s Strategic Plan Supplement

DHP launched its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan Supplement, which builds on the existing goals, objectives, strategies, and indicators in DHP’s 2017-2020 Strategic Plan, by outlining updated priorities that will equip DHP and its implementing partners with the tools they need to achieve national HIV prevention goals.

Medscape Commentary: STI Treatment Guidelines

In a new Medscape Commentary by Drs. Laura Bachmann, Laura Quilter, and Kim Workowski, CDC’s Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) experts highlight five key things to know about the 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines. The full STI Treatment Guidelines, as well as several healthcare provider resources, including the mobile app, are available from the website.

New Youth Advisory Councils pages

In support of its school connectedness work, CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) recently released new web pages focused on Youth Advisory Councils (YACs). YACs comprise a body of diverse youth striving to vocalize the health needs of adolescents by serving as youth ambassadors, and who are engaged in planning and implementing projects to address structural barriers to health in their schools and communities. Through YACs, schools can offer opportunities for youth to learn and demonstrate engagement, leadership, and connectedness—all of which are important in reducing adolescent health risks and experiences.

New Let’s Stop HIV Together Resources for Consumers

Together U video series launch

Together U is a three- part animated video series set on a college campus that features college-aged students as they navigate getting an HIV test, advocating for HIV and other STI prevention options, and adhering to HIV treatment while juggling school. The first video in the Together U series just launched!

Three new social media toolkits

There are three new additions to the social media toolkits.

1. The new HIV treatment toolkit features ready to go content and sample copy in both English and Spanish that aims to reach people where they are regarding HIV treatment.
2. The new prevention toolkit covers all HIV prevention options, including testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), treatment, and stigma.
3. Lastly the new GIPHY Sticker Toolkit shows users how to add Together GIPHY stickers to Facebook and Instagram stories.

New Let’s Stop HIV Together Resources for Providers

The guides on PrEP  have information for providers about how to determine if PrEP should be prescribed to their patients as well as guidance for prescribing oral and injectable PrEP. The new Quick Guide focuses on helping clinicians broach the topic of sexual health with their patients.

Syphilis Surveillance Supplemental Slides, 2016-2020

CDC’s Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) recently released Syphilis Surveillance Supplemental Slides, 2016–2020. The slides provide trends in surveillance data on selected reported behaviors among primary and secondary syphilis in the United States during 2016-2020, stratified by region, race/Hispanic ethnicity, and sex and sex of sex partners.

Dr. Leandro Mena, Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) Director, Interviews with PopHealth Week and STIIX and Stone Podcasts

Check out the latest podcasts from PopHealth Week and STIIX and Stones, which feature Dr. Leandro Mena. He discusses a variety of topics, including the current state of STDs, challenges STD programs face, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and CDC’s initiatives to address STDs.

Overview of Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Advancing Policy as a Public Health Intervention to Reduce Morbidity, Mortality and Disparities in HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and Tuberculosis; PS-23-0009

This NOFO provides funding to conduct robust policy surveillance and legal mapping of priority and emerging policy levers, including cross-cutting syndemic topics (e.g., social determinants of health, infectious disease consequences of the opioid crisis, safe and supportive school environments, and other health conditions).

 Updates to School Connectedness web pages

CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) recently updated pages on the benefits of school connectedness. School connectedness is a sense of being cared for, being supported, and belonging at school.  Youth who reported feeling more connected at school during the pandemic were less likely to report poor mental health. The updated pages can be found on the DASH Healthy Youth website. 

National Prevention Information Network

NPIN representatives recently had a chance to educate over 3,000 attendees at the HIV/AIDS (USCHA), held October 8-11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The attendees include professionals working in HIV prevention, testing, and the treatment spectrum. NPIN’s focus was to educate public health partners about five key NPIN resources:

1. NPIN’s testing/provider database – using our search tools to find testing services and healthcare providers
2. Widgets – small apps that partners can embed in their websites to provide their community access to our testing and provider tools
3. Funding and materials database – a searchable catalog of funding opportunities, health education materials, and communication products
   
   
4. NPIN Community – secure online space to connect, share, and collaborate on NCHHSTP health topics
5. NPIN News – our monthly newsletter highlighting new resources, communication products, and recent additions to our databases

Hearing from NPIN’s partners firsthand—particularly community-based organizations—about the challenges they face when working to reach at-risk communities, engage people in testing services, and link individuals to care was extremely beneficial. NPIN now has invaluable insights on they can grow to meet their evolving needs.

Also, be sure to check out the latest issue of NPIN News.