Summary of Recent Changes Updated information for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States. Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. Added information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at in ..read more

By Daintry Bartoldus, Executive Administrator, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities Hawaii is the home of ALOHA and OHANA. A place where living in harmony, compassion and mutual understanding of respect is the essence of our culture. So, when the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) debuted the Get Out The Vaccine (GOTVaccine) website and called upon people to be informed and learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines – The Council was ready. Yet in their “talk story” sessions with caregivers, paid support staff, friends, family members and the commu ..read more

By Rafael Rolon-Muniz, NACDD Communications and Program Coordinator On May 1st, I got my second COVID-19 dose. When I walked out of the clinic, I exhaled and looked up at the clear sky. More than a year ago, the United States and its territories went into lockdown and all our worlds were turned upside down.  Many have lost their jobs, restaurants have closed, and countless families lost loved ones with no opportunity to say goodbye. Waking out of the clinic, I thought of my grandparents in Puerto Rico, my parents in Austin, my best friend in Miami. I thought of my girlfriend who has not b ..read more

On the heels of the FDA and CDC decisions to expand COVID-19 booster shots to all adults, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued following statement: “All adults are now eligible for COVID-19 booster shots. After thorough review of the data, we are following the science, which shows boosters can help increase people’s protection from COVID-19 and help us reduce infections and severe outcomes. This is especially important ahead of the winter months, where we all spend more time indoors. I am grateful to the hard-working scientists at the FDA and CDC for their rigorous, independent decision-making ..read more

Yesterday, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. CDC now expands vaccine recommendations to about 28 million children in the United States in this age group and allows providers to begin vaccinating them as soon as possible.  COVID-19 cases in children can result in hospitalizations, deaths, MIS-C (inflammatory syndromes ..read more

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action to expand the use of a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccines in eligible populations. The agency is amending the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose as follows: The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals: 65 years of age and older 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occu ..read more

As of Saturday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to allow for use of a single booster dose, to be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series in: individuals 65 years of age and older; individuals 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19; and individuals 18 through 64 years of age whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 puts them at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19 including severe COVID-19. Today’s authoriza ..read more

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, direct support professionals (DSPs) from across the country have played a critical role in helping people with disabilities remain healthy, safe and informed about the virus. To assist DSPs in their work, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) has provided a variety of toolkits, resources and webinars with healthcare experts to share timely, trusted and well-researched information. In this vein, we remain committed to inform the direct support workforce and the disability community about the safety and ef ..read more

Approval Signifies Key Achievement for Public Health On August 23rd, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. “The FDA’s approval of this ..read more

By Donna Meltzer, NACDD CEO Despite strong efforts across the nation, too many Americans — including people with I/DD, their families and their caregivers — either remain hesitant or are experiencing barriers that keep them from getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Low vaccination rates have a significant impact on the people we serve at the NACDD. Individuals with I/DD have been living at high risk since the pandemic began. Because so many of these individuals manage co-occurring conditions, this vaccine could save lives — but only if we can get factual information and support into their communities ..read more