Increased Respiratory Virus Activity, Especially Among Children, Early in the 2022-2023 Fall and Winter

The National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety (NCHBHS) has a new resource to help everyone learn more about RSV, including the importance of daily health checks, inclusion/exclusion due to illness, and what to do when it’s more than just a cold.

Additionally, on November 4, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a CDC Health Advisory #479 about early, elevated respiratory disease incidence caused by multiple viruses occurring especially among children. Co-circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and others could place stress on healthcare systems this fall and winter. This early increase in disease incidence highlights the importance of optimizing respiratory virus prevention and treatment measures. These include prompt vaccination, with both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for all eligible patients aged 6 months and older, and the utilization of antiviral therapy for patients with confirmed or suspected influenza who meet clinical criteria.

Contact your Certification Representative with questions about DHS Regulatory Requirements for managing infectious diseases in child care settings. Individual cases of RSV are not required to be reported to the regional certification office or Department of Health (DOH).

For more information, check out these resources:

• What You Should Know about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Information for Child Care Providers
• Resources to Promote COVID-19 Vaccines for Children & Teens
• Flu Shots for Children
• PA Department of Health's 2022 Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates

An Equity Agenda for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness  

Register now to join the 4th Annual BELL Summit, An Equity Agenda for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness, on Nov. 29, 2022, 11 am to 1 pm, featuring Dr. Iheoma Iruka as the keynote speaker. Framed through the Black Child National Agenda, this presentation elevates the cultural wealth of Black families and other families of color as they continue to deal with numerous inequities. Dr. Iruka’s presentation will be followed by a panel discussion to include: Barbara Poppe, former Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; Sadie Sprague-Lott, Education Coordinator for Families Forward Philadelphia; and Shante Brown, Acting Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning.

Reminders  

• Eligible child care providers should submit their Work Force Support Grant 2.0 application by the Dec. 6, 2022, deadline.
• Those interested in applying for the PA Pre-K Counts can register for the information webinars to learn about PA Pre-K Counts prior to full rebid in 2023. The next webinar in the series is Personnel Qualifications and Professional Development on Dec. 1, 2022.