Flu

Quicklinks

1. The Flu Shot Saves Lives
2. Flu Vaccine Updates
3. Preparing for Flu Season
4. Flu Vaccine Ordering for VFC and VFAAR Providers
5. Order Materials
6. Guidance & Resources

1. The Flu Shot Saves Lives

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly influenza vaccine, or flu shot, for everyone 6 months of age and older. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

Influenza is a potentially deadly disease, especially for the very young, elders, and those with immuno-suppressing health conditions. Each year thousands of Philadelphians are hospitalized due to complications caused by influenza. While the annual flu shot is the best way for your patients to protect themselves, their families, and their friends from the flu, only an estimated 45% of Americans get vaccinated against the flu each year.

Lack of education on the severity of the flu and misinformation about the flu shot are major barriers to getting more Americans vaccinated against influenza. Your voice, as a trusted medical provider, is key to breaking down these barriers in the fight against influenza. It is important that all providers talk to their patients and encourage them to receive their annual flu shot!

Vaccinate Healthcare Workers!

Unvaccinated healthcare workers put patients at risk; healthcare workers can be a key cause of outbreaks in healthcare settings. These employees encounter high-risk patients throughout the influenza season in medical practices, general hospitals, specialty hospitals, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, home-care sites and other healthcare settings.

During an influenza outbreak in a healthcare setting, as many as 70% of the staff and patients can become infected. Annual influenza vaccination of healthcare workers helps to:

• Protect healthcare workers, their patients, and their communities
• Decrease death rates among nursing-home patients
• Reduce work absenteeism
• Reduce the incidence of hospital-based influenza outbreaks
• Improve the prevention of influenza-associated disease
• Enhance patient safety

You are the front line in protecting our city against the flu, but you are not alone. The Philadelphia Public Health Department and the Philadelphia Immunization Program are here to help! This page contains tips on how to talk to your patients, guides on how to order vaccine, and promotional materials to display around your office.

Ready to take the next step and help protect your neighborhood from influenza? If you are a healthcare provider, please refer to the “Preparing For Flu Season” section below for guidance. Community organizations and partners who are considering hosting community flu clinics can visit our Community Flu Clinic page and learn more.

Have questions about the resources we have on offer? Email us at vaccines@phila.gov. Together we can keep our city and our communities safe from the flu!

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3. Preparing For Flu Season

Getting ready for flu season means preparing to recommend flu vaccine to your patients. We have collected some resources to help you talk to your patients about getting their flu shot and overcoming any vaccine hesitancy they may have. Please view, download, and print the following materials and review them with your staff before flu season starts!

• Create a culture of vaccination in your office
  • Foster Support for Vaccination in Your Office (CDC)
• Learn how to talk to parents about the flu vaccine:
  • Flu Vaccine Hesitancy Conversation Flowchart
  • Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation
  • Preparing for Questions Parents May Ask about Vaccines
  • CDC’s Make a Strong Recommendation Page and Toolkit
• Order flu vaccine education materials for your office!

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4. Flu Vaccine Ordering for VFC and VFAAR Providers

Please note, all flu vaccine from the 2022-2023 season must be accounted for before you can order flu for the 2023-2024 season. Guidance on accounting for remaining doses can be found here. To account for any unused 2022-23 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 also be found here.

To place your first flu order…

1.  Complete a reconciliation. (If it’s been less than 2 weeks since your last reconciliation, email Christine and Charma to skip this step)

2. Submit your temperature data since your last order.

• • Upload the CSV file into PhilaVax and…
  • Email the LTD file to TempCheck@Phila.gov

3. On the Vaccine Order page check the “Will this be an influenza order?” box.

4. Order what your site needs for a 4 to 6-week period. Be sure that you have room in your fridge to store all the flu and other vaccine you order.

5. Check the status of your order 2 business days later in the PhilaVax IIS:

• APPROVED: Your flu vaccine is on its way.
• REJECTED: Click on view next to your order to review the notes from the VFC staff. Once all issues have been resolved, resubmit your order.

To place additional flu orders…

For additional flu orders, start with step 2.  Additional flu orders do not require a completed reconciliation if a reconciliation has been completed in the last 60 days. Flu vaccine can be ordered as often as needed. There is no minimum time between orders.

The Immunization Program will make every effort to fulfill your flu vaccine request. If flu product is available in limited quantity, your order may be reduced. If your order is reduced, a note will be added to the PhilaVax IIS comment box on the order page.

Flu vaccine may arrive separately from other vaccines even when ordered at the same time. The day you receive your flu order, log into PhilaVax IIS and electronically add the doses to your inventory. Contact us immediately if the temperature monitor indicates an out-of-range temperature when vaccines are delivered:

• Christine Wilson: christine.wilson@phila.gov / 215-685-6728
• Charma Miller: charma.miller@phila.gov / 215-685-6667
• Julia Toledo: julia.toledo@phila.gov

Have Questions?

Contact  Victor Obeck at victor.obeck@phila.gov for updates or assistance.

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5. Order Materials

Every year the Philadelphia Immunization Program creates posters, prints, and other materials to promote influenza vaccine across the city. We also offer free flu posters and prints to health care providers that supply flu vaccine.

Order flu posters and prints for your office today! You can also visit our Order Materials page to see other immunizations materials available for order.

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