Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
CDC - Vaccinated People Can Avoid Quarantine After COVID Exposure
In a major boost to medical practices, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday that people who have received the full course of COVID-19 vaccines can skip the standard 14-day quarantine.
In a change to their guidance, CDC announced that individuals with an exposure to a suspected or confirmed COVID case do not need to quarantine if:
- They are 2 or more weeks past their final vaccine dose (meaning second shot for Moderna and Pfizer vaccines)
- Are within 3 months following their last dose in the series
- Have remained asymptomatic since the exposure
The CDC's website notes:
[I]ndividual and societal benefits of avoiding unnecessary quarantine may outweigh the potential but unknown risk of transmission, and facilitate the direction of public health resources to persons at highest risk for transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to others. This recommendation to waive quarantine for people with vaccine-derived immunity aligns with quarantine recommendations for those with natural immunity, which eases implementation.
The guidance does note that even if not quarantining, the individual should still monitor themselves for 14 days for symptoms. Vaccinated individuals also should continue to follow PPE and safety precautions in place if healthcare workers.
The change is good news for healthcare facilities who struggle with staff shortages due to staff quarantining. The guidance specifically notes:
These criteria could also be applied when considering work restrictions for fully vaccinated healthcare personnel with higher-risk exposures, as a strategy to alleviate staffing shortages. Of note, exposed healthcare personnel would not be required to quarantine outside of work.
As an exception to the above guidance no longer requiring quarantine for fully vaccinated persons, vaccinated inpatients and residents in healthcare settings should continue to quarantine following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19; outpatients should be cared for using appropriate Transmission-Based Precautions. This exception is due to the unknown vaccine effectiveness in this population, the higher risk of severe disease and death, and challenges with social distancing in healthcare settings.
MSDC will closely track how DC Health's guidance will change based on these updates.
Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked
What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.
MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools
Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.
What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).
MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.
Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.
What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.
MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.
Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.
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