News

If you have questions about any ASTS function, please consult ASTS.org or contact the National Office at 703-414-7870 or asts@asts.org. National Office operations will remain unaffected, as staff have the capacity to work remotely, including answering the phones. All staff are working remotely at this time to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Joint Statement about COVID-19 Vaccination in Organ Transplant Candidates and Recipients_November 2022

ASTS Position Statement COVID-19 Vaccination for Transplant Candidates and Recipients October 18 2021 

CDC Health Alert addressing the Johnson & Johnson  COVID-19 vaccine (Janssen)  

COVID-19 Organ Donation and Transplant Town Hall #4, December 3: available on the AST YouTube channel.

COVID-19: Organ Donation and Transplant Town Hall #3, May 11: available on the AST YouTube channel.

 COVID-19 Donor and Transplant Issues module 

COVID-19: Organ Donation and Transplant Town Hall #2, April 13: available on AST's YouTube channel or UNOS website. Download resources page here.


EARN CME WHILE LEARNING:

Effect of COVID-19 XBB1.5 and BQ.1 Subvariants on Immunocompromised Patients

OPTN Summary of evidence on SARS-CoV-2

SRTR Upcoming Adjustments to Transplant Program and OPO Evaluation Metrics

• ASTS COVID-19 Advisory Committee
  • Guidance Documents
• AJT article: Kidney Transplant in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (calculator)
• CDC Information about COVID-19.
• UNOS member information regarding COVID-19
• AAKP, AST, ASTS hosted webinar on Coronavirus & Transplant Patients: Get the Facts, Save a Life, April 10, 2020
• AST COVID-19 Resources for Transplant Community
• AST Information for Transplant Professionals and Community Members Regarding 2019 Novel Coronavirus
• TTS COVID-19 Dashboard
• CMS:
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Partner Resources
  • Coronavirus Waivers & Flexibilities
  • Current Emergencies (guidance being updated as needed)
  • Expanded Use of Ambulance Origin/Destination Modifiers
  • Lessons from The Front Lines: COVID-19 - A conversation with Seema Verma
  • CARES Act Provider Relief Fund

     

• Subscribe to CenterSpan to discuss transplant issues with your peers
• Transplant Library (free access until May 31)
• International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation transplant guidance
• Notification of Enforcement Discretion for telehealth remote communications during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency
• Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet
• American Medical Association COVID-19 resource center
  
  • COVID-19 Vaccine: Physician FAQs
  • COVID-19 Vaccine: Patient FAQs
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Center
  • Considerations for Physicians Ordering SARS-CoV-2 PCR Diagnostic Testing 
  • Considerations for the General Public re SARS-CoV-2 PCR Diagnostic Testing
  • Serological Testing Guidelines
  • Coding Scenarios
  • CPT reporting for COVID-19 testing
  • AMA Summary of Selected Provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - H.R. 748
• American Kidney Fund
• The Transplant Society
• National Kidney Foundation
• Penn Medicine
• Dialysis Access Procedures During the COVID-19 Crisis: a DeBakey CV Live webinar
• Powers Law (ASTS Legislative/Regulatory Counsel) COVID-19 Resources

Keep up to date with our industry partners:

• Veloxis COVID-19 Update
• Letter From Natera's Medical Director of Organ Transplantation
• Letter from Atara's Head of Global Medical Affairs

• Eurofins Transplant Genomics Press Release

Wellness Resources:
The following resources were collated by Dr. Antu Segal and Dr. Lloyd Brown at Henry Ford Health System

• Coping with Stress: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
• Taking Care of your Emotional Health: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
• Q&A on Coronaviruses: World Health Organization (WHO)
• Coronavirus & Mental Health: Taking Care of Ourselves During Infectious Disease Outbreak: American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• Coronavirus & Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks Response
• Taking Care of your Family during Coronavirus Fact Sheet: Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS)
• Research Information: Pandemics: American Psychological Association
• Five ways to view coverage of the Coronavirus: American Psychological Association
• Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety: American Psychological Association
• Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus: National Public Radio (NPR)
• Talking to Teens & Tweens about Coronavirus: The New York Times