Author: Aimee Lin

Minimum Ordering Quantity Reduction

The minimum order quantity for bivalent Moderna 6mo – 5yr old (NDC 80777-0283-99) vaccine is being reduced to 20 doses per order. As a reminder, one carton of this vaccine contains 20 doses in 10 two-dose vials.Because ancillary supplies are packed well in advance of demand, they will continue to be shipped in minimum quantities to support 100 administrations per kit with this product. If you have sufficient supplies to support administration of the doses you order, we recommend opting out of receiving ancillary kits when placing orders for Moderna bivalent pediatric vaccines.

Moderna Monovalent Products Set to Expire

PDPH has some important updates to share regarding Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna-10 and Moderna-5 monovalent products for individuals aged 6 and older are set to expire in early April. There will not be any additional shelf-life extensions for these products.

The Moderna 6-11 and 12+ monovalent products ordered in the next few weeks will be short-dated, with expirations in early April.

Providers will need to order monovalent vaccines produced by Pfizer (ages 6 and older) and Novavax (ages 12 and older) to begin and complete primary series for their patient populations.

PDPH will accept orders for Moderna monovalent vaccines through March 8 to support primary series vaccinations. After March 8, providers will need to order alternative vaccines from Pfizer (ages 6 and older) and Novavax (aged 12 and older) for individuals seeking monovalent, primary series vaccines.

In anticipation of the upcoming expiration of Moderna’s monovalent vaccines for people ages 6 and older, providers should be aware that depending on the date of the first Moderna dose, the same product may not be available to complete the primary series. In this case, a different COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to complete the primary series at a minimum interval of 28 days from the last COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Please read CDC guidance on interchanging COVID-19 vaccines here.

The U.S. government has an ample supply of monovalent vaccines produced by Pfizer (ages 6 and older) and Novavax (ages 12 and older) to begin and complete their primary series.

In summary:

All Moderna adult (12+) and pediatric (6-11) monovalent COVID-19 vaccines will reach their expiry in early April.
Moderna is not seeking a shelf-life extension for these vaccines.
Ordering for Moderna adult (12+) and pediatric (6-11) monovalent COVID-19 vaccines will end on March 8.
Ordering for Moderna bivalent vaccines for all age groups will remain available.
Pfizer (12+ and 5-11) and Novavax (12+) monovalent vaccines remain available for ordering for primary series vaccination. There is ample supply of both products, and providers can order additional supply.

COVID Updates: Enrollment & VaccineFinder Inventory

Enrollment

Starting March 1, 2023, the COVID program will no longer be enrolling any new providers as we near the end of the public health emergency on May 11, 2023. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reach out again if there are any changes.

VaccineFinder: Report Expired and Depleted Inventory

Reporting your vaccine stock in VaccineFinder is critical to the management of your inventory. This informs the public that you have vaccine available and assures them that the information they see in VaccineFinder represents your available vaccine selections. Help prevent vaccine inventory misinformation in your community by reporting inventory on hand. Zero out inventory in VaccineFinder when you no longer offer it at your site.

Providers who are enrolled in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program are required to report to VaccineFinder on a weekly basis. Please ensure that your inventory is being updated weekly even if no vaccine was administered during that timeframe. Lack of adherence to this requirement can result in your site’s next vaccine order being rejected. If your staff does not have access to the VaccineFinder system or has further questions, please reach out to covidproviders@phila.gov for further assistance.

New Vaccine Products Available Through VFC

On November 4, 2022, FDA licensed a new formulation of Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral (Rotarix, GSK). The new formulation comes as a liquid that does not require mixing or dilution. The new formulation (1.5mL x 10 applicators) will be available for VFC providers to order March 1, 2023. The original formulation (1mL x 10 vials and applicators) will be available until the supply is depleted or expires.To change the formulation that your site orders, complete the Vaccine Change Request Form. Our team will review your request and reply with next steps. We recommend that sites that are part of a system or are affiliated use the same vaccine presentations across sites to ensure continuity of care and help prevent administration errors.

RotarixRotarix, oral (1.5 mL x 10 applicators) will be available March 1, 2023, through the Vaccines Children (VFC) program.

UPDATE: The ACIP routine recommendation for Rotarix is a two dose series, given at 2 and 4 months of age. For catch up vaccination: Do not start the series on or after 15 weeks, 0 days. The maximum age for the final dose is 8 months, 0 days. View the 2023 ACIP pediatric/adolescent schedule.
CVX code: 119
CPT code: 90681
NDC number: 58160-0740-21

For more information on the new formulation of Rotarix, review the package insert.Additional resources:

Thank you for keeping Philadelphia safe and healthy. If you have any questions, please email vaccines@phila.gov.

Mpox Vaccine: Holiday Instructions and Reminders

The City of Philadelphia is closed on February 20, 2023, in observance of President’s Day. Be sure to submit your mpox requests by Tuesday, February 21 to account for the holiday. Normal deliveries resume on Wednesday and Thursday of that week (week of February 20th).

As a reminder, be sure to accept all pending transfers in PhilaVax. If this is not completed, it affects the ability of your site to submit a correct, completed, and closed reconciliation and an order for more mpox vaccine.

Reach out to dphproviderhelp@phila.gov for questions about inventory and reconciliations.

VFC and VFAAR Shipping Delays

Our vaccine distribution center is currently working through an unanticipated backlog of VFC and VFAAR orders as a result of the winter storm that impacted both the FedEx and UPS main hubs as well as some of our vaccine distribution centers last week. Due to this please be aware that there are likely to be delays with some vaccine shipments this week. For your February order, add 1 to 2 weeks of additional vaccine, if you have space in your storage units. Please add a note to the comments section of the order indicating this intention.As a reminder, you can order routine vaccines every 25 days (from the last approved order). Use the ordering formula cheat sheet to calculate how much vaccine to order. Continue to order flu vaccine as needed.

We’re here to help! Reach out to us with any questions at DPHProviderHelp@phila.gov.

Mpox Vaccine: Ordering & Delivery Pause

Mpox vaccine deliveries will be paused the week of January 16 through the 20. Deliveries will resume on Wednesday, January 25. Any orders placed prior will not be fulfilled until the week of January 23. Remember to submit an order request by Monday, January 23, at 5pm for your order to be approved.

January Provider Training Schedule

PDPH offers monthly virtual trainings for interested vaccine providers. View the schedule and sign up for trainings at the links below.

COVID-19 Clinical Rounds for Providers
Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This presentation will be conducted by one of PDPH’s clinicians and will include general COVID updates and the most recent FDA/ACIP recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Storage & Handling Training
Wednesday, January 11, 2023, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am
This presentation will include the most recent storage and handling updates, as well as a review of best practices.

Online Ordering Training
Thursday, January 12, 2023, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am
This presentation will include the most recent Clinic Tools and Inventory managing updates, as well as a live, step-by-step example.

Vaccine Safety Monitoring Systems Training
Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 9:00 am – 9:30 am
This training includes an overview of the current monitoring systems in place (VAERS, V-Safe, VSD, CISA), an explanation of how to utilize these resources in your practice, and examples of reportable events.

If you can’t attend these trainings this month, they will recur in February. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to dphproviderhelp@phila.gov.

PhilaVax User Account Renewal

Dear PhilaVax Users,

PDPH’s Immunization Program is currently undergoing annual PhilaVax user account renewal.

All users must complete the user agreement for the 2023 calendar year for continued access to PhilaVax.

All agreements must be completed by February 7th, 2023. User accounts without an updated agreement by this date will be unable to log into PhilaVax and will be rendered inactive until the agreement is completed.

Find the form here: PhilaVax User Agreement Form

New Vaccine Products Available Through VFC & VFAAR

View more information about Priorix and Vaxneuvance, now available through VFC and VFAAR, below. There have been a number of updates to the available vaccines for the VFC and VFAAR programs. Lists of vaccines currently available through VFC and VFAAR can be accessed through these links.

Complete the following survey to notify our program of which vaccine your site prefers. We will review each site’s submission and reach out with next steps. We recommend that sites that are part of a system or are affiliated use the same vaccine presentations across sites to ensure continuity of care and help prevent administration errors.

Vaccine Change Request

Priorix and Vaxneuvance

In line with the updated ACIP recommendations:

Priorix (Measles, Mumps and Rubella, MMR) is now available through the Vaccines Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults at Risk (VFAAR) programs.

Priorix is a vaccine indicated for active immunization for the prevention of measles, mumps, and rubella in individuals 12 months of age and older.
For all recommendations, MMR II and Priorix can be used interchangeably.
VFC and VFAAR providers must decide whether they will order MMR II or Priorix going forward. To change the product your site orders, complete the Vaccine Change Request form, linked above.
CVX code: 03 CPT code: 90707
For more information on Priorix, review the summary document.

Vaxneuvance (15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV15) is now available through the VFC program.

Vaxneuvance is a vaccine indicated for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F and 33F in individuals 2 months of age and older.
For all recommendations, PCV13 and PCV15 can be used interchangeably.
VFC providers must decide whether they will order Prevnar (PCV13) or Vaxneuvance (PCV15) going forward going forward. To change the product your site orders, complete the Vaccine Change Request form, linked above.
CVX code: 215
CPT code: 90671
For more information on Vaxneuvance, review the summary document.

Thank you for keeping Philadelphia safe and healthy. If you have any questions, please email vaccines@phila.gov.