Program Updates

Register for the SexMed Conference!

Register for the SexMed Conference!

Join this free, in-person conference designed for healthcare providers and care teams seeking best practices, protocols, and skills in proactive, patient-centered sexual healthcare for all Philadelphians. The conference will take place on Friday, May 3, 2024 in Center City, Philadelphia.

Register for the conference!

Conference Details

Fee

There is no fee for this event, but registration is required. Includes breakfast, lunch, and free continuing education credits:

CME
CNE/Nursing Professional Development
LSW, LCSW, LPC, LMFT/Social Work

Audience

For providers and front-facing staff in medical environments.

Date

Friday, May 3, 2024

Time

7:30 a.m. — Registration Opens
8:00 a.m. — Breakfast and Opening Plenary
9:00 a.m. — Morning Breakout Sessions
12:00 p.m. — Lunch Plenary
1:30 p.m. — Afternoon Breakout Sessions
4:30 p.m. — Rooftop Mixer Event (Presented by UPENN Eidos)

Location

The Doubletree by Hilton Hotel – Philadelphia Center City
237 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Content

Sessions cover topics including HIV, mpox, and STI testing, medications to prevent HIV infection, linkage to care, harm reduction messages, patient experience, and communication skills. Elevate your expertise in sexual healthcare at SexMed.

Detailed program will be featured on the event website.

2024 Influenza Ordering Survey

While flu remains prevalent across the country, the 2023-2024 flu season has seen a drop in coverage, and Philadelphia is no exception.

Fill out this short survey (less than 3 minutes) to help us better prepare for next flu season. Every site that completes the form by Friday, April 26, 2024, will be entered for a chance to win a free buzzy. Your responses are key in our planning for the 2024-2025 flu season!

Influenza Ordering Survey

Tips for Managing Short-Dated COVID-19 Vaccine Inventory

COVID-19 vaccine shipped by McKesson in the following months will be short-dated, meaning the manufacturer expiration dates will be shorter than usual.

McKesson will continue distributing COVID-19 doses until the vaccines are within 30 days of expiry.

Here are some tips for managing short-dated COVID-19 vaccine inventory:

Order smaller quantities of vaccines more frequently while maintaining a 3–4 week vaccine supply.
Make note vaccine expiration dates when receiving shipments and routinely check expiration dates when completing monthly reconciliations.
Rotate short-dated vaccines to the front of the inventory and use them first.
Conduct outreach to Bridge Access Program and Vaccines for Children (VFC) eligible patients and schedule them to get vaccinated before doses expire.

Have questions? Email us at vaccines@phila.gov.

Call for Nominations: 2024 Immunization Champion Award

Call for Nominations: 2024 Immunization Champion Award

This email marks the launch of the nomination period for the Immunization Champion Award! We look forward to receiving your nominations and selecting a 2024 Immunization Champion for Philadelphia. The Immunization Champion Award is a national award program hosted by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and honors individuals going above and beyond to foster and/or promote immunization in their communities. Access the nomination form below.

Submit a nomination!

Nominations will be accepted until May 10, 2024. Please share this email with your networks.

Instructions for Nomination

Individuals can be recognized for their work in childhood, adolescent, or adult vaccines.

Who is eligible?

Healthcare professionals (i.e., pharmacists, physicians, nurses, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants)
Nonprofit leaders
Community activists
Parents
School and education leaders
Coalition members
Community-based organization members
Immunization partners

Who is ineligible?

Immunization program managers
County, state, and federal government employees paid by state or federal immunization funding
Individuals who have been affiliated with and/or employed by pharmaceutical companies
Individuals who have already received the award
Groups – the award is only for individuals

If you have any questions, please contact info@immunizationmanagers.org. Additional information can also be found here.

Pediatric Immunization Techniques Training

Join us for a pediatric immunization techniques training for Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers!

The Immunization Program is hosting a free pediatric immunization techniques training for VFC providers. Class participants are limited and will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. A maximum of 21 participants will be accepted. Participants can only attend one training per year.

This half-day, interactive training is tailored to VFC sites only and will focus on the basics of:

Vaccine preventable diseases
Vaccine types
Immunization administration techniques
Pediatric immunization schedules

Training Details:

Hosts: Division of Disease Control, Immunization Program

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Location: Jefferson Center 1101, Market St., 13th Floor, Training Room Phila., PA 19107

Presenters:

Beth Smith, BSN, RN – Provider Quality Assurance Nurse
Dom Shannon, BSN, RN – Provider Quality Assurance Nurse
Nichole Holmes, MPH – Training Coordinator

Training Registration Form

We encourage attendance by RNs, LPNs, and MAs who administer vaccines or will administer vaccines in the future. This course is beneficial to new and seasoned practitioners who need a refresher or would like an update on best practices for administering vaccines.

Important note: This training does not offer continuing education credits/units. Upon completion, a certificate will be distributed. We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, reach out to nichole.holmes@phila.gov.

LogTag Version 3: Optional Update

The newest version of LogTag is now available. If you would like to update your software, you or your IT department can download LogTag Version 3 here.

Once downloaded, configure the software so that you can easily download the required temperature files and reset the DDL.

Use the Version 3 guide below to assist you.

Version 3 Guide

Important Information

This update is optional. Version 2 will continue to work. We are not currently requiring sites to update.
Version 3 is now the only LogTag software available for download. So, if you need to re-download the LogTag software (for example, you get a new computer), you will have to download Version 3 at that time.
This change does not affect PhilaVax. You should still upload to PhilaVax as usual.

Reach out with any questions to TempCheck@Phila.gov.

For additional guides, helpful information, and other resources, visit the Storage and Handling section of our Resources page.

Increase in Mpox Cases in Philadelphia

There is an active mpox outbreak in the Philadelphia area. There were 5 confirmed cases between January and October 2023, and Philadelphia began seeing an increase in cases in November 2023. In recent weeks, 0–4 cases per week have been reported, with a total of 17 cases identified. Vaccination continues to be an important preventative measure as recent cases were unvaccinated.

Eligible individuals should receive mpox vaccination with the Jynneos vaccine. Vaccinating high-risk individuals will help prevent further community spread.

Use the button below to order the Jynneos vaccine. If you do not carry the Jynneos vaccine, please counsel and refer to either Health Center #1 or available Rite Aid pharmacies. Use the CDC’s mpox vaccine locato r to find a Jynneos provider in your area.

Order Mpox Vaccine

JYNNEOS Commercialization

Bavarian Nordic (Jynneos manufacturer) intends to move the Jynneos vaccine (mpox) to a commercial market in the spring. In anticipation of this change, providers are encouraged to place vaccine orders to accommodate your patient population. Once the Jynneos vaccine is commercialized, please refer patients to Rite Aid pharmacies and FQHCs.

Clade I Variant

Clade I mpox virus, a highly transmissible variant causing more severe disease, is circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To date, only Clade II has been detected in the U.S. since 2022. Similar to Clade II, Clade I can also be acquired through sexual contact. Clinicians should inquire about travel to the DRC in all patients with suspected mpox. Testing for suspected Clade I should be coordinated through PDPH. To report cases, please call (215) 685-6748. For immediate reporting and consultation after hours, on weekends, and on holidays, please call (215) 686-4514.

Resources

CDC: Mpox vaccine recommendations
CDC: Mpox vaccine eligibility criteria
PDPH: Mpox case data
PDPH health advisory: Increase in Mpox cases in Philadelphia

RSV Season Ends March 31

As the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season draws to a close on March 31, we want to remind all healthcare providers of important considerations regarding administering nirsevimab (Beyfortus) and RSV immunization.

End of RSV season: The RSV season officially concludes on March 31. Therefore, it is essential to administer all remaining doses of nirsevimab to eligible children before April 1.
Do not discard unused immunizations: If you possess surplus doses of nirsevimab at the end of this RSV season, do not discard them. The expiration date for Beyfortus has been extended to two years. These doses can be safely stored and utilized when the RSV season resumes on October 1.

We recognize the challenges encountered during this RSV season and extend our gratitude to all healthcare providers for their patience, flexibility, and perseverance. According to the CDC’s latest data, 43% of newborns received RSV coverage this year despite the limited availability of Beyfortus.

If you have any questions or require further guidance, please contact Victor Obeck, VFC coordinator, at victor.obeck@phila.gov .

PhilaVax Closed to VFC Orders from 3/26 through 4/1

PhilaVax will be temporarily closed to new VFC orders from 12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, until 12 p.m. on Monday, April 1, while the vaccine prices are updated for 2024.

Any orders entered into PhilaVax IIS during this time will be deleted from the system and not processed.

If you need to place an order, submit it before 12 p.m. onTuesday, March 26.

Normal order processing and shipping will resume at 12 p.m. on Monday, April 1.

Updated CDC Guidance for Community Settings

Updated CDC Guidance for Community Settings

Earlier this week, the CDC updated the respiratory virus guidance and suggested additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 65 and older.

The recommendations in this guidance may help reduce spread of respiratory illness such as RSV, influenza, and others.

People in community settings with respiratory symptoms should stay home until symptoms improve and they are fever-free for 24 hours and take transmission-based precautions for five days after leaving home.
People aged 65 years and older currently make up the majority (70%) of those hospitalized with COVID-19. They are now eligible for an additional dose of vaccine, provided it has been at least four months since the last dose.
Individuals of all ages should receive at least one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine this season.

This recommendation provides specific guidance for non-healthcare congregate settings, such as confinement facilities and shelters. Isolation and exposure recommendations for healthcare settings, including acute, post-acute, and outpatient settings have not changed.

For any questions, email vaccines@phila.gov.