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As a result of the high levels of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity and the availability of effective treatments and prevention tools, along with the local alert designation of GREEN (low COVID risk) per the CDC data tracker, new revised COVID-19 recommendations will be in effect beginning Sept. 29. The changes are detailed in this latest message from the COVID-19 Task Force. This message is intended for UTMB employees, who must be logged onto the UTMB network to access the full text. Thank you.

Due to the declining rates of COVID-19 infections in our region, modifications have been made to the UTMB social distancing and masking requirements and visitation policy, effective September 7, 2022. The changes are detailed in this latest message from the COVID-19 Task Force. This message is intended for UTMB employees, who must be logged onto the UTMB network to access the full text. Thank you.

The UTMB COVID-19 Clinical Task Force shared updates on high test positivity rates among patients tested at UTMB, information on the successful COVID-19 test-to-treat program, and the new Novavax vaccine, an effective option for those reluctant or unable to get mRNA vaccines.

Many parents, caregivers and clinicians have been waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine for younger children. Now that the CDC has approved the vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years, UTMB will begin offering the vaccine at our pediatric clinics beginning Monday, June 27.

Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines have now been authorized for children down to 6 months of age. On June 18, CDC endorsed that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

During the past few weeks, we have noted a rapid increase in COVID-19 test positivity in our community—now at 30%—and a gradually increasing inpatient census. As a result of these recent developments, changes in COVID-19 testing policies are being made...

Due to a continued increase in COVID infections in the community this week (test positivity of >20%) together with a modest increase in COVID-related hospitalizations and rising infection among employees and students, new COVID precautions are being implemented effective June 7, 2022.

The rate of COVID infection has continued to increase in our region as well as among our patients and UTMB workforce. Although rates of severe infection and hospitalization due to COVID remain stable and low, caution is advised to keep our employees and patients safe from COVID infection during this current wave. The following COVID precautions are effective immediately. If the rates of COVID admissions and infections among our workforce increase further, additional precautions may be implemented.

On May 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completing a primary series with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (See the FDA announcement.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the booster for this age group on May 19, 2022. CDC now recommends that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. (See the CDC announcement.)

A single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been approved for children 5 through 11 years of age, at least five months after completing a primary series with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

There has been a modest increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate in our community, which has ranged from 6% to 11% in the past week. While the COVID-19 hospitalization rate has increased only slightly, it may increase further over the next two to three weeks. Currently, UTMB is not planning any immediate changes to our COVID-19 precautions. However, if COVID-19 positivity and hospitalization rates increase, changes in precautions may be necessary.

A reminder on the current masking policy (as of April 22, 2022) and some frequently asked questions and answers from the COVID-19 Clinical Task Force.

As a result of the continued low rates of COVID-19 infection in our community and among UTMB faculty, staff and students—as well as very low hospitalization rates—the following modifications to the masking policy will be implemented effective immediately, April 22, 2022. (Please note that we will continue to monitor infection and hospitalization rates in our region; therefore, these policies are subject to change on short notice, based on the most current data).