(Santa Ana, CA) –In response to several recent tragedies occurring in our county and throughout the U.S., the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) office encourages OC residents to seek support for yourself and your children with mental health and emotional challenges. “There have been...

On June 18th the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years of age and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years of age. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by the Western States Scientific Safety...

(Santa Ana, CA) – In response to Sunday’s approval from the Western States Safety Review Workgroup and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is finalizing preparations to offer the Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech vaccines for young children ages 6 months and older. “Starting...

(Santa Ana, CA) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people between 13 and 64 years of age get tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS at least once as part of routine health care. For those at high risk of HIV...

Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released updated information and guidance on managing monkeypox virus infection through its California Health Alert Network (CAHAN). The Orange County Healthcare Agency (OCHCA) wants to make sure providers are aware of the potential for monkeypox virus infection in patients who meet epidemiologic...

In our health alert on June 20, 2022, an error was identified in the stated minimum interval when using Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months through 5 years of age who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. The minimum interval between the second and third (additional) dose should be at...

Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) has been notified of its first probable monkeypox virus case. Probable cases are those who test positive for orthopoxvirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Probable cases will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for monkeypox virus confirmation...

(Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency (HCA), Communicable Disease Control Division (CDCD) has confirmed the first presumptive case of monkeypox infection in Orange County (OC) and is awaiting final confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While awaiting CDC confirmation of a probable case...

On June 22, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviewed its recommendations for influenza vaccines for the 2022-2023 influenza season. The ACIP endorsed a preference for use of higher-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccines for those 65 years and older whenever available...

In the last week several commercial laboratories (Labcorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Quest) have announced availability of monkeypox testing. Additional commercial laboratories are anticipated to offer monkeypox testing in coming weeks. Providers should check with the commercial labs they work with about availability and specific specimen collection requirements. OCHCA approval is...