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Monkeypox Update: Switch to JYNNEOS Intradermal Strategy

Monkeypox Update: Switch to JYNNEOS Intradermal Strategy

Due to a shortage of doses, the PDPH recommends that providers switch to intradermal vaccination as soon as possible.

Intradermal administration involves injecting the vaccine superficially between the epidermis and the hypodermis layers of the skin, typically of the inner side of the forearm.
Intradermal JYNNEOS administration can be considered for most adults ages 18 years and older. Exceptions include people with a history of developing keloid scars. It is also recommended that clinicians observe patients after vaccination to monitor for the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions; 15 minutes is suggested for most patients, 30 minutes for persons with a history of anaphylaxis to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, chicken, or egg protein.
Vaccine Schedule and Dosing Regimens
While JYNNEOS dose availability is currently limited, the recommendation is for providers to begin with a single shot. When there is enough vaccine to administer two shots (a complete dose), the recommended dosing interval between the first and second dose of JYNNEOS vaccine for both the standard (subcutaneous administration) and the alternative (intradermal administration) dosing regimens is 28 days for both.
For further questions, email vaccines@phila.gov.

Full CDC Vaccination Record Cards

Full CDC Vaccination Record Cards

Vaccination record cards for many recipients of COVID-19 vaccines are now full, especially for those who are over 50 and/or immunocompromised. If a vaccination card is full, the CDC recommends that a second card be completed, and the two cards stapled together. Encourage the patient to photograph both cards in case the two become separated, if possible. Both cards should be presented when vaccination history is required for travel, employment, or any other purpose requiring official, universally recognized documentation. Patients should bring both cards to future vaccination appointments for verification of vaccination history.


When a Vaccination Record Card is Full:
  • Complete a new card for the patient
  • Staple both cards together
  • Encourage the patient to photograph both cards in case they become separated
  • Bring both cards to future vaccination appointments
Providers are supplied with CDC vaccination cards as part of the ancillary kits in a 1:1 dose/card ratio. Many providers are reporting an abundant supply of CDC vaccination cards. Please utilize your current supply of vaccination cards to support distribution of a second card to those that need them. If your site has any concerns about your vaccination card supply, please reach out to PDPH.

Invitation to Discuss Monkeypox Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine

Invitation to Discuss Monkeypox Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine

FQHC Partners,

On Wednesday, August 17, PDPH is inviting you to participate in a discussion about monkeypox testing, treatment, and vaccine. Please mark your calendars, and join using the meeting information below!

PDPH is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: FQHC Discussion on monkeypox testing, treatment, and vaccine
Time: Aug 17, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81516780822

Meeting ID: 815 1678 0822

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Meeting ID: 815 1678 0822

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcXvdHapmW

Thank you for your dedication to keeping Philadelphians safe and healthy.

Updated Eligibility Criteria for Monkeypox Vaccine

Updated Eligibility Criteria for Monkeypox Vaccine

There has been a recent update in eligibility criteria for monkeypox vaccination, including sex workers of any sex or gender, as well as anyone who has had recent close contact with someone infected with monkeypox.Eligible individuals include:
  • Gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and other men who have sex with men, transgender, or non-binary persons, who are 18 years of age or older.
    • And have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days, and/or believe they have been exposed to an STI within the last 14 days.
    • Or have had any newly diagnosed STI in the past 6 months*, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, early syphilis, or HIV.
  • Sex workers of any sex or gender.
  • Anyone with known close, skin-to-skin contact within the last 14 days with someone infected with monkeypox.
*Eligibility criteria has been modified from a newly diagnosed STI in the past 3 months to the past 6 months.
Thank you for your dedication to curbing the spread of monkeypox. If you have any questions about these criteria, please reach out to vaccines@phila.gov.

Menactra No Longer Available Through VFC or VFAAR

Menactra No Longer Available Through VFC or VFAAR

Menactra can no longer be ordered through VFC or VFAAR. The inventory of Menactra at the CDC depots has been depleted.
Sites that were using Menactra, need to transition to one of the other MCV4 products available, Menveo from GSK or MenQuadfi from Sanofi, if they have not already.
If your site ordered Menactra, and you have not already, please take a few minutes to complete this survey to let us know which MCV4 vaccine you plan to order going forward.

Partner to Hold Vaccine Clinics!

Partner to Hold Vaccine Clinics!

Dear COVID-19 Vaccine Providers,

PDPH is experiencing an uptick in community organizations requesting vaccine at events.

If you have not signed up already and are interested in being partnered with a community organization to provide them COVID-19 vaccine at events, please sign up using the link below.

Thank you to all providers that are currently signed-up to be matched with Philadelphia-based organizations who are seeking COVID-19 vaccine for their community members. If you have already filled out the survey, there is no need to fill it out again.

Fill out our vaccine provider capacity survey!

In the event that PDPH has an organization seeking a vaccine provider, you will be contacted by PDPH to confirm your interest in partnering to hold the clinic before any contact information is shared.

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

Return Expired Doses of Flu Today!

Return Expired Doses of Flu Today!

All VFC/VFAAR influenza vaccine supplied by the Philadelphia Immunization Program during the 2021-2022 flu season has expired. Please account for unused VFC/VFAAR flu vaccine 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.
  • Email DPHProviderHelp@phila.gov to account for open vials of flu vaccine.

Return your vaccine before August 15th

Please complete these steps by August 15, 2022, to avoid delays in processing your site’s 2022-23 flu season orders. If you have questions, contact DPHProviderHelp@phila.gov.

Don’t delay, return your expired vaccine now!

It is difficult to anticipate exactly when flu vaccine will be available. However, the health department is committed to getting flu vaccine to our providers as soon as it arrives. To prevent delays, please complete your flu return today.All communication about the availability of flu vaccine will be made via email and posted on our website. Keep an eye out for upcoming messages! If you need to add more people to our mailing list, please contact us at vaccines@phila.gov.Thank you for helping to protect Philadelphians this past year! We look forward to working together to keep people safe from the flu next season.

Novavax Vaccine Available for Limited Ordering

Novavax Vaccine Available for Limited Ordering

On Tuesday, the CDC endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine be used as an option for adults ages 18 years and older.Some key information:
  • Novavax is the first COVID-19 protein subunit vaccine that the CDC has recommended for use in the United States.
  • ACIP’s vote—which follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s emergency use authorization—is for the use of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for adults ages 18 and older as a two-dose primary series.
    • This recommendation is for all adults, including those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
    • Individuals who receive Novavax are not eligible for any boosters at this time.
  • Allocations of Novavax will be limited.
    • Participating Federal Retail Pharmacies will be eligible to receive Novavax.
Ordering:
  • Ordering for Novavax will open up on Monday 7/25/22.
    • The minimum order quantity is 100 doses. Partial, Monday.com, ordering is not currently available.  
  • Presently, we are expected to receive only one allocation of Novavax vaccine for our providers to order against. As this initial allocation will be limited and jurisdictions will need to manage first and second doses with it, orders will be prioritized and restricted. Placing an order for Novavax does not guarantee a shipment.
Storage and Handling:
  • Novavax is a two-dose COVID vaccination series, given as a 0.5ml IM injection three weeks apart.
  • It is stable at refrigeration only, currently for up to nine months.
    • Initial shipments are set to expire sometime in February 2023.
    • There will be a website available to search expiration dates by lot number.
    • No expiration information will be printed on the vials
  • Once punctured, the vial needs to be discarded within 6 hours.
To review the EUA/Fact Sheet information for Novavax, please visit the FDA webpage: Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted | FDA

Be Ready!: Update Your Vaccine Management Plan Today!

Update Your Vaccine Management Plan Today!

Summer means storm season, and to help you be prepared, we’ve created a new Vaccine Management Plan.

It has all the information you need to:

  • Store your vaccine safely.
  • Respond to an emergency.
  • Transport your vaccine during an emergency.

Don’t wait until the storm, comes take action today:

  • Review the document with all the staff that works with VFC, VFAAR, or COVID vaccine at your site.
  • Gather the supplies indicated on pages 14-17 of the document.
  • Fill out the information on the first page of the document.
    • Fax (215-238-6948) or email (TempCheck@phila.gov) a copy to our office by Friday, August 12th.
  • Post the full document on your vaccine storage unit.
    • You can print a copy today or keep an eye out for a copy in the mail this week!

Make sure your site’s backup storage locations are appropriate for vaccine storage:

  • Approved
    • Doctor’s offices freezer compartment of combination units
    • Hospital Pharmacies
    • Pharmacies
    • Approved Unit at Another Clinic
  • Not Approved
    • Personal Home Freezers
    • Personal Deep Freezers
    • Freezer Compartment of a Combination Unit
    • Storage Containers with Dry Ice

Be ready to move vaccine in an emergency. Gather the supplies needed to transport your refrigerated and frozen vaccine today!

Have questions? Reach out to our team at TempCheck@phila.gov for assistance.

Vaccine Updates: Moderna Life Span Approval, Training and Resources & July 4th Deliveries

Vaccine Updates: Moderna Life Span Approval, Training and Resources & July 4th Deliveries

ACIP voted unanimously to recommend the Moderna 6-17 COVID vaccine, allowing for Moderna products to be used to vaccinate the full life span. Please see wallchart below for product breakdown: 
  • Moderna 6-11 Years: A two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccines series (50ug) is recommended for children ages 6-11 years, under the EUA issued by FDA.
    • Ordering for this product, Dark Blue Cap/Purple Border, will open next week in Philavax on the 29th. Monday.com ordering will open the following week.
  • Moderna 12-17 Years: A two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccines series (100ug) is recommended for children ages 12-17 years, under the EUA issued by FDA.

Training and Resources

MODERNA VIAL PRESENTATIONS, DHCP LETTER, ETC.  
WEBINAR INVITE: MODERNA PEDIATRIC COVID-19 VACCINE INDICATION (REGISTER)Please join us for one of our upcoming webinars detailing the pediatric and adolescent indications for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Webinars will be held:
  • Tuesday, June 28 at 3 pm ET (2 pm CT / 12 pm PT)
  • Thursday, July 7 at 12 pm ET (11 am CT / 9 am PT)
  • Tuesday, July 12 at 2 pm ET (1 pm CT / 11 am PT)
  • Tuesday, July 19 at 12 pm ET (11 am CT / 9 am PT)
If you’d like to attend more than one webinar, please register for each date separately. The same topics will be covered in all webinars.Pfizer Medical Updates & Immunization Site Training for all Healthcare Providers led by Pfizer Vaccines US Medical Affairs: 
  • Trainings now include presentations on COVID-19 vaccines with a MAROON Cap for individuals 6 months through 4 years of age.
  • For details, see dates and links for upcoming training sessions.
  • Daily trainings (Monday through Friday) will begin Monday, June 20, 2022, and continue at least through July 8, 2022 (with no training on July 4th).
Videos:Intramuscular (IM) Injection: Supplies (Children Birth through 18 Years of Age): This training addresses how to select the equipment needed to prepare an intramuscular (IM) injection for children from birth through 18 years of age. A supply of needles of the appropriate lengths should be available. Aseptic technique must be used to protect supplies from microbial contamination. Safe injection practices minimize risk of injuries, infections, and non-infectious adverse events for both patients and providers. Health care providers are always advised to observe patients for 15 minutes after vaccination.Intramuscular (IM) Injection: Sites: This training helps providers identify intramuscular (IM) injection sites. A needle is used to inject the vaccine into the muscle. The appropriate site for an intramuscular injection for those under 2 years of age is the vastus lateralis muscle. The deltoid muscle over the triceps area of the upper arm is preferred for persons 3 years of age and older. Safe injection practices minimize risk of injuries, infections, and non-infectious adverse events for both patients and providers. Health care providers are always advised to observe patients for 15 minutes after vaccination.

Fourth of July Deliveries

Moderna and J&J/Janssen Vaccines
  • No vaccine deliveries will occur Saturday July 2 through Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccines
  • No vaccine deliveries will occur on Saturday, July 2 through Monday, July 4, 2022.