Immunization Records Review for Childcare Facilities
Hello Childcare Provider:
On an annual basis, the Pennsylvania Department of Health in collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health conducts an immunization records review of a random sample of childcare facilities from the Department of Human Services list of childcare group settings throughout the Commonwealth. This year, your facility has been chosen.
The goal of this review is to ensure that all children receive their required immunizations and are protected against vaccine preventable diseases.
During the review, we will examine the immunization records for all children enrolled at your facility and validate their completeness. Per the regulations for childcare facilities, all ACIP recommended vaccines are required for children unless an exemption is on file. This includes an annual flu vaccine.
On the day of the review, we will need access to the Child Health Assessment Form (CD 51) for all children enrolled in your facility who are 2 months through 59 months of age, with a date of birth from 9/2/2017 – 7/1/2022.
The deadline to submit requested information is September 30, 2022.
Please review the attachments below:
Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s correspondence letter
2022 Recommended Immunization for Children (Birth-6 years old)
Thank you for your commitment to keeping children safe and healthy! If you have any questions, please email tanya.jones@phila.gov.
Monkeypox Vaccine Update: Expanded Eligibility & Second Doses
There is now vaccine supply to begin administering a complete two-dose Jynneos vaccine series to each individual who is eligible for vaccine.
Updates
Eligibility for a first dose now includes:
• People of all ages. Subcutaneous administration continues to be required for those <18.
• People with a history of STI in the past 12 months, as well as individuals who plan to have multiple or anonymous sex partners, or those plan to meet new sexual partners via social media.
Eligibility for a second dose now includes:
• People who have received a first Jynneos vaccine dose through either intradermal or subcutaneous administration. This dose should be given intradermally to those 18 and older unless there is a contraindication.
Eligibility has also expanded to include those with a history of STI in the past 12 months (from 6 months previously) and to start offering preexposure prophylaxis to people at high risk for becoming infected. The interval between doses for both subcutaneous and intradermal injections is at minimum 28 days. Individuals who test positive for monkeypox after their first dose should not receive a second dose of vaccine. Individuals whose second doses have been delayed do not need to restart the two-dose vaccine series.
There is no age requirement for Jynneos vaccine eligibility, although those less than 18 years of age must receive the vaccine subcutaneously. Individuals 18 and older will be given intradermal vaccination, regardless of which method was used for the first vaccine, unless there is a contraindication.
Complete eligibility criteria include:
People who meet the following condition:
• Gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and other men who have sex with men, transgender, or non-binary persons
AND meet ONE of the following criteria:
• Have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days
• Have had any newly diagnosed STI in the past 12 months, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, early syphilis, or HIV
• Have recently attended or plan to attend any venue where anonymous sex or sex with multiple partners will occur (e.g. saunas, bathhouses, sex clubs, sex parties) in the next 30 days
• Have met recent partners or plan to meet new partners in the next 30 days through social media platforms (such as Grindr, Tinder or Scruff), or at clubs, raves, sex parties, saunas
Additionally, the following people are eligible:
• Sex workers (of any sex or gender), and/or
• Anyone with known close contact (skin-to-skin) with someone with monkeypox in the past 14 days
When using an intradermal strategy, there may be unused doses in a single vial. All efforts should be made to give doses to the above eligible individuals. If there are doses that would go wasted, they may be given to other individuals not included in the above criteria. Healthcare workers directly involved in testing and examining those with possible monkeypox illness and staff involved in environmental cleaning and disinfection protocols should be prioritized.
Thank you for keeping Philadelphia safe and healthy! If you have any questions about these updates, please contact vaccines@phila.gov.
Aetna Better Health Medicaid Coverage Discontinued
Aetna Better Health of Pennsylvania (ABH-PA) Medicaid Coverage was Discontinued Wednesday, August 31st, 2022. As of Thursday, September 1, 2022, patients with this plan will no longer be covered by this plan. Letters were sent to ABH-PA plan members to help them with the transition. They can also call the phone number on the back of their card for more information.
As a provider, please:
These changes do not affect the Aetna Better Health of Pennsylvania Kids Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Aetna Better Health CHIP will remain in place following the changes to their Medicaid program.
You can direct questions regarding the closure of ABH-PA to their dedicated mailbox at PAMedicaidClosureProviderRelationsMailbox@AETNA.com.
Other questions can be directed to vaccines@phila.gov. Thank you for keeping Philadelphia safe and healthy!
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.
For further questions, email vaccines@phila.gov.
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.