VFAAR

VFC and VFAAR Shipping Delays

Our vaccine distribution center is currently working through an unanticipated backlog of VFC and VFAAR orders as a result of the winter storm that impacted both the FedEx and UPS main hubs as well as some of our vaccine distribution centers last week. Due to this please be aware that there are likely to be delays with some vaccine shipments this week. For your February order, add 1 to 2 weeks of additional vaccine, if you have space in your storage units. Please add a note to the comments section of the order indicating this intention.As a reminder, you can order routine vaccines every 25 days (from the last approved order). Use the ordering formula cheat sheet to calculate how much vaccine to order. Continue to order flu vaccine as needed.

We’re here to help! Reach out to us with any questions at DPHProviderHelp@phila.gov.

January Provider Training Schedule

PDPH offers monthly virtual trainings for interested vaccine providers. View the schedule and sign up for trainings at the links below.

COVID-19 Clinical Rounds for Providers
Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This presentation will be conducted by one of PDPH’s clinicians and will include general COVID updates and the most recent FDA/ACIP recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Storage & Handling Training
Wednesday, January 11, 2023, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am
This presentation will include the most recent storage and handling updates, as well as a review of best practices.

Online Ordering Training
Thursday, January 12, 2023, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am
This presentation will include the most recent Clinic Tools and Inventory managing updates, as well as a live, step-by-step example.

Vaccine Safety Monitoring Systems Training
Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 9:00 am – 9:30 am
This training includes an overview of the current monitoring systems in place (VAERS, V-Safe, VSD, CISA), an explanation of how to utilize these resources in your practice, and examples of reportable events.

If you can’t attend these trainings this month, they will recur in February. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to dphproviderhelp@phila.gov.

New Vaccine Products Available Through VFC & VFAAR

View more information about Priorix and Vaxneuvance, now available through VFC and VFAAR, below. There have been a number of updates to the available vaccines for the VFC and VFAAR programs. Lists of vaccines currently available through VFC and VFAAR can be accessed through these links.

Complete the following survey to notify our program of which vaccine your site prefers. We will review each site’s submission and reach out with next steps. We recommend that sites that are part of a system or are affiliated use the same vaccine presentations across sites to ensure continuity of care and help prevent administration errors.

Vaccine Change Request

Priorix and Vaxneuvance

In line with the updated ACIP recommendations:

Priorix (Measles, Mumps and Rubella, MMR) is now available through the Vaccines Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults at Risk (VFAAR) programs.

Priorix is a vaccine indicated for active immunization for the prevention of measles, mumps, and rubella in individuals 12 months of age and older.
For all recommendations, MMR II and Priorix can be used interchangeably.
VFC and VFAAR providers must decide whether they will order MMR II or Priorix going forward. To change the product your site orders, complete the Vaccine Change Request form, linked above.
CVX code: 03 CPT code: 90707
For more information on Priorix, review the summary document.

Vaxneuvance (15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV15) is now available through the VFC program.

Vaxneuvance is a vaccine indicated for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F and 33F in individuals 2 months of age and older.
For all recommendations, PCV13 and PCV15 can be used interchangeably.
VFC providers must decide whether they will order Prevnar (PCV13) or Vaxneuvance (PCV15) going forward going forward. To change the product your site orders, complete the Vaccine Change Request form, linked above.
CVX code: 215
CPT code: 90671
For more information on Vaxneuvance, review the summary document.

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

Additional VFAAR Flu Vaccine Now Available for Ordering

The CDC has allotted additional doses of flu vaccine to the Immunization Program. VFAAR flu is now available for ordering. Due to the limited capacity, orders are limited to 200 doses per site to ensure everyone has access to flu vaccine.These flu vaccines are now available to order for your VFAAR patients:

VFAAR
- Flulaval prefilled syringes
- Flucelvax prefilled syringes

Please visit our flu ordering page for more information on the available vaccines.As a reminder, VFAAR flu vaccine can be administered to all adults regardless of insurance status during the 2022-2023 flu season. This is a special allowance by the CDC during flu season this year. While flu is available for everyone, 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. For more information, visit our website.

Have questions?Contact Christine Wilson at 215.685.6728 or christine.wilson@phila.gov or Charma Miller at 215.685.6667 or charma.miller@phila.gov for assistance.Thank you for keeping Philadelphia healthy by fighting flu! For more information about influenza in Philadelphia, visit our flu page.

Vaccine Shipment Delays During the Holiday Season

Submit orders by Wednesday, December 7.

During the holiday season – from mid-December to early January – the distribution center that ships vaccine provided through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults At Risk (VFAAR) programs will have reduced shipping capacity. Orders submitted during this time will take longer than usual to ship.To make sure that you have the vaccines you need during this time, submit orders by 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 7. These will be processed and shipped out as usual. Be sure to check the status of your order within 2 business days of submitting.Continue to check for tracking information daily as FedEx and UPS shipping delays continue. Use this job aid to assist you with reviewing this information.Orders submitted after Wednesday, December 7 may not be delivered until the week of January 2, at the earliest. The distribution center will return to normal operations on January 2.For assistance with completing your reconciliation or submitting your order, email our team at DPHProviderhelp@phila.gov.

Storage & Handling Checkup: Temperature Monitoring

Vaccines are temperature sensitive and must be stored in specific temperature ranges to preserve their viability. Vaccines that are exposed to out of range temperatures can lose potency, and people vaccinated with these vaccines will not get the protection they need.

To ensure that every dose of vaccine that is administered at your site is viable, it is critical to monitor unit temperatures in two ways:

Digital Data Logger (DDL) – records temperatures, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Why? This provides documentation that every dose in your unit has been stored at the right temperature from the time you received it until it is administered to a patient.
Paper Temperature Logs – records twice daily temperature checks.
- Why? This provides a chance to visually check the unit and ensure that the temperatures have not been out out range.

Check Up: Review, Evaluate, and Update!

Make sure that your clinic is recording, reporting and documenting your temperate data the right way.

1. Download and submit your DDL data and send it to our team every 28 days, when ordering vaccine or experiencing a temperature excursion.

2. Fill out the paper temperature log twice each clinic day. When filling out the paper log, always use the DDL as your reference.

Make sure you have the most up-to-date logs:Fridge Temperature Log (Fahrenheit)Freezer Temperature Log (Fahrenheit)Fridge Temperature Log (Celsius)Freezer Temperature Log (Celsius)3. Keep your paper and DDL (electronic) temperature logs on file for 3 years for VFC and VFAAR providers and for 7 years for COVID providers. Our team will review your paper temperature logs during the next site visit to your clinic.

All of our Storage and Handling resources can be accessed here.

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

Temperature Reporting for Online Vaccine Ordering

Temperature Reporting for Online Vaccine Ordering

Temperature logs must be submitted on the same day as any order placed for federal vaccine (VFC, VFAAR, flu, COVID-19, or monkeypox)!

Temperature logs are to be uploaded in PhilaVax and emailed to tempcheck@phila.gov. The logs must show that the unit is within the appropriate temperature ranges and that there have been no alarms. This reporting guide can assist you in submitting your DDL temperature files.

For more information on ordering and how to upload your temperature log, please attend the next online ordering training on November 10, 2022 from 10:00AM – 11:00AM EST. Click the link below to register for the training.

Register: Online Ordering Training

If your site uses a privately purchased DDL or cannot upload in PhilaVax, please contact tempcheck@phila.gov.

Thank you for keeping Philadelphia safe and healthy!

VFC and VFAAR Shipping Delays

Our vaccine distribution center is currently working through an unanticipated backlog of flu and non-flu VFC and VFAAR orders.To ensure that your site has the vaccines you need during this time, please plan to order additional vaccine before you run out and order an additional 1 -2 weeks of vaccine in your next order, if you have space in your storage units.Continue to order flu vaccine as needed.Order additional non-flu vaccine every 25 days (from last approved order) or when you are down to a 2- 3 week supply of any given vaccine. If it has been less than 25 days since your last order, complete your reconciliation and then email our team at DPHProviderHelp@phila.gov to open your order. Use the ordering formula cheat sheet to calculate how much vaccine to order.

Immunization Techniques Training

Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

**Please arrive 15 minutes early. Late arrivals will not be able to attend.**

The Immunization Program is hosting a FREE Immunization Techniques training this Fall. Class participants are limited and will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. A maximum of 20 participants will be accepted per session. Participants can only attend one training per year.This half-day, interactive, education session will focus on the basics of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccines, immunization administration techniques, and pediatric immunization schedules. We encourage attendance by Nurses and Medical Assistants who administer vaccines or who will be administering vaccines in the future. This course is beneficial to new practitioners as well as seasoned practitioners who need a refresher course or would like an update on best practices for administering vaccines.We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to dphproviderhelp@phila.gov.

Additional VFC & VFAAR Flu Vaccine Presentations Available to Order

These vaccines are now available to order for your patients:

VFC
- Flucelvax prefilled syringes
- Flumist intranasal
VFAAR
- Flucelvax prefilled syringes

Please visit our flu ordering page for more information on the available vaccines.

Order flu vaccine today.

Have questions?

Contact Christine Wilson at 215.685.6728 or christine.wilson@phila.gov or Charma Miller at 215.685.6667 or charma.miller@phila.gov for assistance.Thank you for keeping Philadelphia healthy by fighting flu! For more information about influenza in Philadelphia, visit our flu page.