DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: COVID-19 and Flu Data Sharing Agreement for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention K-12 Absenteeism Project
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Data Use Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for participation in the sharing of Fresno County Influenza and COVID-19 data, effective July 1, 2023, and will remain in effect until terminated by either party pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements and conditions set forth in this Data Use Agreement; and
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health, or designee, to execute future data use and sharing agreements, subject to approval as to legal form by County Counsel, with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have no financial impact.
REPORT
The recommended actions have no associated Net County Cost. Given the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-aged children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been actively monitoring influenza, infectious diseases, and related health issues. Approving the first recommended action will authorize the Chairman to enter into an agreement with the CDC to share Influenza data and COVID-19 data. Approval of the second recommended action will enable the Director of Public Health or their assignee to establish data-sharing arrangements with the CDC, ensuring no financial impact on the county. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board elect not to approve the recommended actions, it would result slower detection of an illness that may be impacting the community. CDC would not have real-time detection to provide adequate health response.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Data use agreements typically focus on establishing the terms and conditions for the use and sharing of data, rather than involving financial transactions. These agreements primarily address issues such as data security, confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations. As a result, they may not have a direct financial impact on the parties involved.
DISCUSSION:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on school-aged children, not only resulting in the loss of in-person learning due to school closures, but also due to secondary effects such as economic and social consequences. Even though most children who test positive for COVID-19 exhibit mild symptoms, they may still experience illnesses and complications, including the rare but severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Additionally, there is increasing evidence that children may be susceptible to long-term effects of COVID-19. Children who test positive for COVID-19, even if symptom-free or exhibiting mild symptoms, are required to isolate at home for at least five days, and sometimes 10 or 14 days during much of the pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 12 million children have tested positive for COVID-19, leading to unprecedented levels of school absences. Syndromic surveillance is a method that has been long used to monitor early detection of severe or widespread communicable diseases and health conditions, as it collects information on symptoms and clinical signs of disease in a population rather than laboratory or clinically verified cases. It allows for real-time detection of an illness or condition impacting a community and can lead to timelier public action.
This Agreement details the provisions and conditions that the County of Fresno shall abide by in furnishing influenza and COVID-19 data listed in this agreement to the CDC. This Agreement ensures adherence to guiding principles of accountability, privacy and confidentiality, stewardship, scientific practice, efficiency, and equity. Use and disclosure of the data must be consistent with this Agreement and with applicable law.
The Department of Public Health periodically receives data use agreements that are reviewed and vetted by the Medical Director, program managers and the Public Health Director. Granting the Public Health Director authority to execute data use and sharing agreements with the CDC will reduce redundancy of going to the Board for no net cost agreements of this type.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - CDC Data Use Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander