COVID-19

21 May

Animal husbandry resources available on WSDA website

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic created real or perceived food insecurity issues for many Washingtonians. Some people decided to gain a degree of food autonomy by obtaining animals for meat production, and many had no previous experience with livestock. To address that knowledge gap, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) created educational materials about various aspects of animal care and made this available on our website. These materials, grouped under the title of “A Beginner's Guide to Raising Animals for Meat,” are...

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14 May

Washington state plans re-opening and lifts mask mandates – what does it mean for veterinarians?

wsvma   |   COVID-19

Gov. Inslee announced the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions Thursday with plans to fully re-open businesses by June 30, 2021. He also said that beginning immediately, the state would follow the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations and have fewer requirements for wearing masks for fully vaccinated people. The Governor announced he plans to move the entire state to Phase 3, or 50% capacity, beginning Tuesday, May 18, and Phase 4, or full capacity, by June 30. In Washington, there’s been a...

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30 April

If you lose your COVID-19 vaccination card, access it through MyIR

wsvma   |   COVID-19

People who misplace their CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards can easily view their immunization records online using MyIR, which is the state’s free and secure immunization records system. Once registered, you can access your family’s immunization records any time you need them. If you are unable to access your records online, you can visit a local pharmacy, clinic, or school to register for MyIR, request records from your healthcare provider, or request an immunization record from DOH. If a provider has an...

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23 April

Test confirms group of WA dogs show evidence of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19

wsvma   |   COVID-19

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) received confirmation this week of a test showing evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a group of Washington state dogs who were sampled as part of a study by the University of Washington. In all, 23 samples tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, and while these are the first cases of a pet testing positive in Washington, they are not the first in the U.S., as there have been...

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02 April

Updated COVID-19 Reopening Guide for veterinary practices available now

wsvma   |   COVID-19, State Regulatory

In response to loosening restrictions, the WSVMA is releasing an updated version of COVID-19: A Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine in Washington – Phase 3 to give additional information for practices as more people become vaccinated and counties begin to allow more people to gather. The guide, written by well-known expert Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM in partnership with the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, lays out a comprehensive plan to implement appropriate measures to continue ensuring the health and safety of both veterinary...

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02 April

WSVMA DVM: COVID-19 Webinar – Ensuring Practices Flourish: Transitioning from Pandemic to Post-Pandemic Operations

wsvma   |   Continuing Education, COVID-19

Join us Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 12 pm for our webinar Ensuring Practices Flourish: Transitioning from Pandemic to Post-Pandemic Operations with Darren Osborne. The veterinary recovery that occurred in the latter half of 2020—following the first pandemic shutdown—was nothing short of meteoric. Practices initially reacted to the shutdown with a “nobody move until this goes away” attitude but quickly surveyed the big picture and launched one of the most successful operational pivots imaginable. The transition from classic service/retail to telemedicine,...

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26 March

A One Health approach to infection prevention and control on animal farms to address COVID-19 and other infections

wsvma   |   COVID-19, One Health

Created by the University of Washington's Center for One Health Research, Harborview Medical Center, and the Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Continuing Education Program, training modules have been developed to assist the process of creating and implementing infection prevention and control plans on animal farms that will control COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases important for both human and animal health. Through workplace hazard identification, control and evaluation, and integration of occupational medicine services, such programs can...

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19 March

Washington veterinarians and veterinary students as COVID-19 vaccine administrators

wsvma   |   COVID-19, State Regulatory

Due to dedicated efforts by the AVMA, veterinarians and veterinary students are now authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines to human patients in all 50 states under the PREP Act. As the federal government anticipates significantly ramping up vaccine allocation as additional vaccines become available, there is a need to have a cadre of authorized volunteers to assist with vaccine administration. The WSVMA has discussed this with the WA State Dept. of Health (DOH) and the following information is provided. Veterinarians (both with...

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12 March

Washington moves into new vaccine phase

wsvma   |   COVID-19

Gov. Inslee announced that starting Wednesday, March 17, everyone in Phase 1B, Tier 2 will be eligible for their COVID vaccine. This includes workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores, public transit, firefighters, and law enforcement, among others. Phase 1B, Tier 2 also includes people over the age of 16 who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high-risk. The WSVMA continues to advocate for veterinary professionals to be vaccinated as soon as possible and is currently awaiting...

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12 March

Why Ivermectin should not be used to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans

wsvma   |   COVID-19

There seems to be a growing interest in a drug called ivermectin to treat humans with COVID-19. Ivermectin is often used in the U.S. to treat or prevent parasites in animals.  The FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical support and been hospitalized after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for horses. About people taking Ivermectin FDA has not approved ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans. Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses for...

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