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Author: Aimee Lin

COVID Vaccine Expiration Dates

COVID Vaccine Expiration Dates

With expiration dates for some Pfizer lots approaching, we would like to remind providers to be mindful about documenting Beyond Use Dates (BUD) and manufacture expiration dates. Any time you move vaccine from the ultra-low freezer/dry ice shipper to a standard freezer or fridge or from a freezer to a fridge, you should place a BUD label on the vaccine box to keep track of vaccine viability. Both PDPH and the CDC have BUD labels available for printing on label sheets. Check out this link for PDPH BUDs (more label options to come soon): Forms and Resources – Philadelphia Immunization ProgramImportant Tip: A Beyond Use Date can never extend pass a manufacture expiration date. You have to use vaccines by whichever date comes first.Pfizer
Moderna
Novavax
  • Novavax lot/expiration date lookup tool
  • Does not have BUD labels presently as vaccine arrives refrigerated – use manufacture expiration date and use expiration tool to check date prior to each use
Janssen
  • Janssen lot/expiration date lookup tool
    • Many lots approaching expiration
  • Does not have BUD labels presently as vaccine arrives refrigerated – use manufacture expiration date and use expiration tool to check date prior to each use

Get Your Patients Up to Date With Polio Vaccine

Get Your Patients Up to Date With Polio Vaccine

Cases of polio, or poliomyelitis, have recently increased. There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented with safe and effective vaccination. The CDC urges providers to offer polio vaccine to everyone who is not fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
Pediatric Guidance (2 months through 18 years of age)CDC recommends that children get four doses of polio vaccine. Children should get one dose at each of the following ages: 
  • 2 months old
  • 4 months old
  • 6 through 18 months old
  • 4 through 6 years old
Children who have not started their polio vaccine series or who are delayed in getting all recommended doses should start as soon as possible or finish their series by following the recommended catch-up schedule. View the Polio catch-up guidance for children 4 months through 17 years of age here.Adult Guidance (19 years of age and older)
Most adults in the United States were vaccinated as children. However, adults who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or are fully vaccinated but are at higher risk for contact with poliovirus should receive polio vaccination. Adults who are at increased risk of contact with poliovirus and who have previously completed the polio vaccination series (IPV or OPV) can receive one lifetime booster dose of IPV. Learn more about which unvaccinated adults could be at higher risk, such as international travelers, laboratory workers, and healthcare professionals.

CDC Continuing Education – Available Tuesday, 9/6

For more information about polio, treatment, and vaccination, the CDC’s continuing education Pink Book course is coming up on September 6. This is an on-demand video with no registration required.

Monovalent (Original Formulation) mRNA Vaccines No Longer Authorized for Boosters

Monovalent (Original Formulation) mRNA Vaccines No Longer Authorized for Boosters

An important note: Monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are NO LONGER authorized for use as boosters in people ages 12 years and older.
  • From the FDA press release: With today’s authorization, the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older.
Appointments for monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna boosters in people 12 years of age and older must be rescheduled for when locations have the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines available.Please check out the FDA landing pages below for updated EUAs for existing products and new EUAs for the bivalent products.
Remember: Bivalent vaccines cannot be administered until ACIP convenes and makes formal recommendations (expected tomorrow or Thursday).

Monkeypox Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Resources

Monkeypox Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Resources

Following PDPH’s information session on Wednesday, August 17, we have included the slides from our presentation and follow up resources on monkeypox testing and treatment.

Information for Healthcare Providers on Obtaining and Using TPOXX (Tecovirimat) for Treatment of Monkeypox

CDC, in partnership with FDA, has made it easier for healthcare providers to provide tecovirimat (TPOXX) treatment to patients with monkeypox under EA-IND. The streamlined process reduces the number of required forms and gives patients the option to see their doctor virtually. View the CDC’s full guidance.
If you are using CDC IRB: CDC IRB serves as the central IRB for review and approval. Facilities may elect to rely on the CDC IRB for centralized review and approval by submitting a request to the CDC’s Human Research Protection Office within 7 calendar days of tecovirimat treatment at your facility. CDC will promptly document an agreement in writing using the CDC IRB Authorization Agreement (Sample Template) [4 MB, 2 pages] which must be signed by both parties.For institutions that use EPIC, here is where the CDC TPOXX intake form (Form A) can be downloaded. When you open the file, you can copy it into an Epic smart phrase, and then just make sure the fields that are being pulled in with the smart phrases match the fields that we have in your version of EPIC. There were a couple of small discrepancies (e.g. our epic uses @DEPTPHN@ instead of @DEPTPHONE@ for the department phone numbers). We also had to make a few “Smart lists” by hand (like where the form had {tecovirimat reason:45613} we had to recreate that based off the CDC form). You can upload the outcome form into Epic and share it with any providers who might use it.

Monkeypox Update: Second Doses

Monkeypox Update: Second Doses

PDPH is recommending that providers who are currently offering monkeypox vaccine to their patients and individuals at highest risk to begin offering second doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine to patients who have received their first dose intradermally. The second dose is recommended 28 days after the first dose.Currently, it is not recommended that patients who received their first dose subcutaneously be recalled for a second dose. Recommendations for when and at what interval subcutaneous doses should be administered will be shared soon.Patients should be reminded protection from monkeypox is not immediate with one dose. Two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine are required for full protection and maximum immunity is reached 14 days after the second dose. One dose will provide some protection 14 days after vaccinations, but people should still continue to take precautions against monkeypox during this time.More information is available from PDPH at https://bit.ly/PHLMonkeypoxInfo.
Providers will need to enter order requests by 5 pm on Mondays. If your request is approved, you can expect to receive MPX doses Wednesday or Thursday following your request date.

For further questions, email vaccines@phila.gov.

VFC & VFAAR Flu is Now Available to Order!

VFC & VFAAR Flu is Now Available to Order!

Flu vaccine is now available to order for your VFC and VFAAR eligible patients. Visit our flu page for instructions on how to place your first order and which products are available to order now.Please note, all flu vaccine from the 2021-2022 season must be accounted for before you can order flu for the 2022-2023 season.
  • Account for any unused 2021-22 VFC/VFAAR flu vaccine still at your site using PhilaVax:
    • Process a return for the unopened vials online in the Vaccines Returns module. A job aid with step by step instructions can be found here.
    • Complete an adjustment for any open MDVs in the Inventory Module. A job aid with step by step instructions can be found here.
We will send out additional emails and update the flu page as more presentations of flu become available.

Have questions?

Contact Christine Wilson at christine.wilson@phila.gov, or Charma Miller at charma.miller@phila.gov, or Angelica Echevarria at angelica.echevarria@phila.gov for assistance.

Bivalent Pfizer and Moderna Booster Vaccines Now Available for Ordering

Bivalent Pfizer and Moderna Booster Vaccines Now Available for Ordering

Providers can now sign into Philavax to place your orders. Orders are due by Wednesday at 5pm.Please note: bivalent vaccine orders will ship sometime after Labor Day. No vaccines will be delivered on Labor Day. Monday.com ordering, partial orders, will not be available until the week after Labor Day. Please do not place Monday.com orders for bivalent vaccines at this time.

Monkeypox Inventory Update and Ordering Cadence

Monkeypox Inventory Update and Ordering Cadence

To facilitate the transition to intradermal (ID) administration of the Jynneos Monkeypox (MPX) vaccine, please:
  • Accept all Monkeypox inventory into your inventory location. Use this guide.
  • Complete an inventory reconciliation titled “SubQ to ID Transition,” so that we have an accurate count of the number of vials you have on hand. Use this guide.
  • Email vaccines@phila.gov when the reconciliation is complete so PDPH staff can update your inventory to reflect the number of ID doses you have on hand.
Beginning Monday 08/22, we are moving to a weekly ordering cadence for the MPX vaccine.Providers will need to enter orders by 5 pm on Mondays. If your request is approved, you can expect to receive MPX doses Wednesday or Thursday following your request date.Please remember for your request to be approved you must:
Additional Resources
If you have questions about accessing MPX vaccine, email vaccines@phila.gov.

Bivalent Pfizer and Moderna Boosters Are Coming

Bivalent Pfizer and Moderna Boosters Are Coming

On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised manufacturers seeking to update their COVID-19 vaccines to add an Omicron BA.4/5 spike protein component to the current vaccine composition to create a bivalent booster vaccine. Pending potential FDA Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for new bivalent COVID-19 boosters developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna in or around September 2022, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will convene to discuss potential recommendations. Administration of any new bivalent COVID-19 boosters can begin only after CDC’s official recommendations.What We Know So Far:
  • Pre-ordering for both Pfizer and Moderna bivalent boosters will begin on Monday, August 22, 2022, and close Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at 5pm.
    • Sites should plan to manage necessary freezer/refrigerator space as well as inventory/ordering to avoid waste when developing their overall fall vaccine plans.
  • These bivalent formulas can only be used for boosters for individuals who have completed their primary series.
  • Bivalent boosters will include a BA.4/5 valence specifically.
  • The original Pfizer and Moderna vaccine formulas should only be used for primary series vaccinations once the bivalent products arrive.
    • As the cap colors/borders will be the same for bivalent boosters and the original formulas, sites will need to be mindful of packaging/labeling to differentiate the two products.
  • Delivery will begin after Labor Day – date TBD.
  • ACIP will meet to make official recommendations about vaccine intervals and dosing schedules.
  • EUAs for these two bivalent products are not yet available.
  • It is expected that at least one bivalent vaccine for children ages 11 years and younger may be authorized within a short time following the authorization(s) of bivalent vaccines for people ages 12 years and older.
Pfizer Bivalent Booster
Age: 12+ – pendingShips: Ultra-cold on dry iceStorage: Ultra-cold – until manufacture expiration date             Fridge – 10 weeksDoses per vial: 6Cap color: GreyMinimum Order Quantity: 300 doses (5 boxes)Moderna Bivalent BoosterAge: 18+ – pendingShips: FrozenStorage: Frozen – until manufacture expiration date             Fridge – 30 daysDoses per vial: 5Cap color: BlueMinimum Order Quantity: 100 doses (2 boxes)

VFAAR Flu Vaccine Available for All Adults for the 2022-2023 Season

VFAAR Flu Vaccine Available for All Adults for the 2022-2023 Season

On October 15, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a special allowance for Vaccines for Adults at Risk (VFAAR) flu administration. VFAAR flu vaccine can be administered to all adults regardless of insurance status during the 2022-2023 flu season.Contrary to our default policy of allowing only the truly uninsured to receive VFAAR flu doses, the CDC is making an exception to the screening requirement for flu only.

Why is VFAAR flu vaccine available to everyone?

The intent of removing the eligibility requirements for these federally funded doses is to ensure that everyone has access to flu vaccine. However, as providers, we ask you to follow the ordering algorithm below to ensure that throughout the flu season, you continue to have doses on hand for all your patients – especially the uninsured:
  • Use your existing privately purchased vaccine to vaccinate insured individuals.
  • Order a supply of VFAAR vaccines to vaccinate uninsured patients.
  • Do not miss opportunities. Vaccinate your patients with the most appropriate supply you have in stock.

Which supply of vaccine should I use?

  • Continue to vaccinate uninsured adults with flu from your VFAAR vaccine supply. As reminder, you cannot withhold a dose of VFAAR flu vaccine because a patient is unable to pay the administration fee.
  • Continue to vaccinate insured adults with flu from your privately purchased flu supply. However, if private doses are not available (because you’re waiting for your shipment or your supply is depleted), do not miss an opportunity; remember everyone is eligible to receive a dose from the VFAAR supply. And the VFAAR vaccines you use on private patients do not have to be replaced.
    • Do not charge anyone’s insurance for the cost of the VFAAR flu doses. This is considered fraud and could affect your ability to receive VFAAR doses going forward. You can charge patients’ insurance an administration fee for doses of VFAAR flu that are administered to insured patients.
  • Use the flowchart below to assist you with identifying the correct supply:

Order Soon!

Remember to order VFAAR flu vaccine as needed throughout the 2022-2023 flu season. If you have any questions about your VFAAR supply contact Kenya Mack at kenya.mack@phila.gov for assistance.Visit our Flu Page on our website for more information on what vaccines are available and to gain access to flu resources and free print materials.Thank for your helping to keep Philadelphia safe from the flu!