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Notices

Additional VFC & VFAAR Flu Vaccine Presentations Available to Order

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.

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.

COVID-19 Walk-in Survey

COVID-19 Walk-in Survey

PDPH is interested in learning more about Philadelphia providers’ walk-in capacity. Please complete this brief, four-question survey to assess your site’s ability to accept walk-ins now that bivalent boosters are available. Responses will be collected until 9/14.

COVID Vaccine Expiration Dates

COVID Vaccine Expiration Dates

With expiration dates for some Pfizer lots approaching, we would like to remind providers to be mindful about documenting Beyond Use Dates (BUD) and manufacture expiration dates. Any time you move vaccine from the ultra-low freezer/dry ice shipper to a standard freezer or fridge or from a freezer to a fridge, you should place a BUD label on the vaccine box to keep track of vaccine viability. Both PDPH and the CDC have BUD labels available for printing on label sheets. Check out this link for PDPH BUDs (more label options to come soon): Forms and Resources – Philadelphia Immunization ProgramImportant Tip: A Beyond Use Date can never extend pass a manufacture expiration date. You have to use vaccines by whichever date comes first.Pfizer
Moderna
Novavax
  • Novavax lot/expiration date lookup tool
  • Does not have BUD labels presently as vaccine arrives refrigerated – use manufacture expiration date and use expiration tool to check date prior to each use
Janssen
  • Janssen lot/expiration date lookup tool
    • Many lots approaching expiration
  • Does not have BUD labels presently as vaccine arrives refrigerated – use manufacture expiration date and use expiration tool to check date prior to each use

Immunization Records Review for Childcare Facilities

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:

HIPAA Letter

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

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 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:

  • Continue to vaccinate these patients. They are still VFC and medicaid eligible.
  • Do not charge patients out of pocket for care or vaccine administration. 
  • Support patients identify, or as they identify, a new provider if their new Medicaid plan is out of network. Email our team at vaccines@phila.gov with any questions.

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. 

Questions?

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!

Get Your Patients Up to Date With Polio Vaccine

Get Your Patients Up to Date With Polio Vaccine

Cases of polio, or poliomyelitis, have recently increased. There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented with safe and effective vaccination. The CDC urges providers to offer polio vaccine to everyone who is not fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
Pediatric Guidance (2 months through 18 years of age)CDC recommends that children get four doses of polio vaccine. Children should get one dose at each of the following ages: 
  • 2 months old
  • 4 months old
  • 6 through 18 months old
  • 4 through 6 years old
Children who have not started their polio vaccine series or who are delayed in getting all recommended doses should start as soon as possible or finish their series by following the recommended catch-up schedule. View the Polio catch-up guidance for children 4 months through 17 years of age here.Adult Guidance (19 years of age and older)
Most adults in the United States were vaccinated as children. However, adults who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or are fully vaccinated but are at higher risk for contact with poliovirus should receive polio vaccination. Adults who are at increased risk of contact with poliovirus and who have previously completed the polio vaccination series (IPV or OPV) can receive one lifetime booster dose of IPV. Learn more about which unvaccinated adults could be at higher risk, such as international travelers, laboratory workers, and healthcare professionals.

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.

Monovalent (Original Formulation) mRNA Vaccines No Longer Authorized for Boosters

Monovalent (Original Formulation) mRNA Vaccines No Longer Authorized for Boosters

An important note: Monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are NO LONGER authorized for use as boosters in people ages 12 years and older.
  • From the FDA press release: With today’s authorization, the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older.
Appointments for monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna boosters in people 12 years of age and older must be rescheduled for when locations have the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines available.Please check out the FDA landing pages below for updated EUAs for existing products and new EUAs for the bivalent products.
Remember: Bivalent vaccines cannot be administered until ACIP convenes and makes formal recommendations (expected tomorrow or Thursday).

Monkeypox Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Resources

Monkeypox Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Resources

Following PDPH’s information session on Wednesday, August 17, we have included the slides from our presentation and follow up resources on monkeypox testing and treatment.

Information for Healthcare Providers on Obtaining and Using TPOXX (Tecovirimat) for Treatment of Monkeypox

CDC, in partnership with FDA, has made it easier for healthcare providers to provide tecovirimat (TPOXX) treatment to patients with monkeypox under EA-IND. The streamlined process reduces the number of required forms and gives patients the option to see their doctor virtually. View the CDC’s full guidance.
If you are using CDC IRB: CDC IRB serves as the central IRB for review and approval. Facilities may elect to rely on the CDC IRB for centralized review and approval by submitting a request to the CDC’s Human Research Protection Office within 7 calendar days of tecovirimat treatment at your facility. CDC will promptly document an agreement in writing using the CDC IRB Authorization Agreement (Sample Template) [4 MB, 2 pages] which must be signed by both parties.For institutions that use EPIC, here is where the CDC TPOXX intake form (Form A) can be downloaded. When you open the file, you can copy it into an Epic smart phrase, and then just make sure the fields that are being pulled in with the smart phrases match the fields that we have in your version of EPIC. There were a couple of small discrepancies (e.g. our epic uses @DEPTPHN@ instead of @DEPTPHONE@ for the department phone numbers). We also had to make a few “Smart lists” by hand (like where the form had {tecovirimat reason:45613} we had to recreate that based off the CDC form). You can upload the outcome form into Epic and share it with any providers who might use it.

Monkeypox Update: Second Doses

Monkeypox Update: Second Doses

PDPH is recommending that providers who are currently offering monkeypox vaccine to their patients and individuals at highest risk to begin offering second doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine to patients who have received their first dose intradermally. The second dose is recommended 28 days after the first dose.Currently, it is not recommended that patients who received their first dose subcutaneously be recalled for a second dose. Recommendations for when and at what interval subcutaneous doses should be administered will be shared soon.Patients should be reminded protection from monkeypox is not immediate with one dose. Two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine are required for full protection and maximum immunity is reached 14 days after the second dose. One dose will provide some protection 14 days after vaccinations, but people should still continue to take precautions against monkeypox during this time.More information is available from PDPH at https://bit.ly/PHLMonkeypoxInfo.
Providers will need to enter order requests by 5 pm on Mondays. If your request is approved, you can expect to receive MPX doses Wednesday or Thursday following your request date.

For further questions, email vaccines@phila.gov.