MMWR News Synopsis

Articles

Supplement: Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey — United States, January-June 2021

CDC Media Relations
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New CDC analyses describe on the experiences and behaviors of U.S. high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, 37% of U.S. high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifty-five percent reported they experienced emotional abuse and 11% reported they experienced physical abuse by a parent or caregiver. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and female youth reported greater levels of poor mental health and emotional abuse than their counterparts. In addition, 36% of youth reported they experienced racism before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings also highlight the important role that school connectedness had on students during a time of severe disruption. These data come from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, CDC’s first nationally representative survey of public- and private-school high school students to assess the well-being of U.S. youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults Aged 19–59 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022

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CDC now recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all adults 59 years and younger and for adults 60 and older with risk factors for infection. CDC published the rationale for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) decision to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for all adults 19–59 years, and adults 60 years and older with risk factors for infection. Previously, adults were recommended for hepatitis B vaccination when considered at risk of infection or if they requested it. ACIP reviewed evidence, including data on rates of new hepatitis B infections, illness, and death as well as data on vaccine safety, and concluded that hepatitis B vaccination of all adults aged 19–59 years provides advantages over the previous risk-factor-based recommendations. These advantages include the potential to reduce the U.S. burden of hepatitis B, reduce barriers associated with risk-factor-based screening and disclosure (such as provider time constraints or patients not disclosing sexual or drug-related risk behaviors), and improve health equity. CDC continues to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for all infants and unvaccinated children younger than 19 years of age.

Assessment of Epidemiology Capacity in State Health Departments — United States, 2021

CDC Media Relations
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Despite growth in the nationwide number of epidemiologists due to the COVID-19 response, significant gaps in the applied epidemiology workforce remain. Sustainable funding is needed to build a robust public health infrastructure that can support data-driven public health practice and growth of low-capacity program areas (e.g., genomics, mental health, and oral health). Overall capacity to deliver essential public health services has declined. Despite growth in the number of state health department epidemiologists due to the COVID-19 response, significant gaps in epidemiologic support remain in many program areas, including genomics, mental health, and oral health. Since 2017, informatics full-time positions increased by 107%, adding 103 additional epidemiologists. Infectious disease decreased by 19% (340 epidemiologists), chronic disease by 18% (54 epidemiologists), and maternal-child health by 9% (29 epidemiologists). State health departments noted the need for a minimum of 2,196 additional epidemiologists nationwide, a 53% increase over current numbers. State health departments continue to rely heavily on federal funds due to less investment by states, creating job insecurity and challenges prioritizing specific jurisdictional needs. There is a need for sustainable funding, avenues for incorporating COVID-19 surge staff into sustainable positions, and additional focus on recruiting and retaining the applied epidemiology workforce long-term.

Previously Released: Use of At-Home COVID-19 Tests — United States, August 23, 2021–March 12, 2022

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Previously Released: Effectiveness of Homologous and Heterologous COVID-19 Booster Doses Following 1 Ad.26.COV2.S (Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) Vaccine Dose Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Adults — VISION Network, 10 States, December 2021–March 2022

CDC Media Relations
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• Xylazine-Related Deaths — Cook County, Illinois, 2017–2021Xylazine, a sedative approved for use in veterinary medicine, has been increasingly associated with opioid-related deaths in Cook County, Illinois. From 2017 to 2021, more than 200 cases of suspected opioid overdose deaths in Cook County involved a detectable level of xylazine on testing after death. The highest number of xylazine-associated deaths occurred in 2021. More than 99% of xylazine-related deaths also involved fentanyl or substances with a related structure (fentanyl analogs). As of October 2021, more than 1 in 9 fentanyl-related deaths in Cook County involved detectable xylazine. Naloxone, an opioid reversal agent, is not expected to reverse the sedative effects of xylazine. This concerning rise in xylazine-involved deaths in Cook County necessitates increased surveillance nationally, and response efforts should account for the increased presence of xylazine. Although no specific antidote is available, naloxone should be administered in cases of potentially fatal overdose because most xylazine cases co-occur with opioids. Health care providers should be aware that cases of suspected fentanyl overdose refractory to naloxone may involve xylazine toxicity.

• Percentage of Office-Based Physicians Who Had Telephone or Internet/Email Consults with Patients — National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, United States, 2018 and 2020
  

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