Training Videos: School Required Immunizations

Pennsylvania law requires all students (K-12) to be vaccinated while attending school. Students who do not have the required vaccines may be excluded from school until they receive the appropriate vaccines.

Since the 2020 school year, national coverage with state-required vaccines among kindergarten students has declined.

Work with parents and guardians to schedule vaccination appointments to help get your patients on track with immunizations.

Training Videos

We have created a series of short training videos to support your practice. The videos cover topics including school immunization requirements, the ACIP child and adolescent immunization schedule, information on specific vaccines, vaccine interval spacing, and Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) reporting.

Meningococcal B Vaccination: Bexsero Dosing

On August 19, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new dosing schedule for GSK meningococcal B (menB) vaccine, Bexsero. 

The 1 month interval between dose 1 and 2 is no longer licensed, and has been replaced by a 6 month interval between dose 1 and 2.  With the new dosing schedule, if a second dose is given earlier than 6 months after the first dose, a third dose should be administered at least 4 months after the second dose.

We will issue an updated advisory after the October 2024 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting if they offer new guidance on how to approach adolescents that have already received Bexsero on the previously approved interval (one month between dose 1 and 2). 

View the updated package insert for Bexsero dosing and schedule intervals below.

Individuals at Increased Risk 

Immunocompromised people and those at high risk of menB disease should receive a 3-dose schedule with doses given at 0, 1–2, and 6-month intervals. If the second dose of a 3-dose schedule is delayed and administered 6 months or longer after the first dose, the third dose is not needed.

Additional Resources

Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) Availability & Inventory Management

VFC ordering for the 2024 – 2025 Beyfortus (nirsevimab) season will begin this week.

The CDC is releasing VFC Beyfortus (nirsevimab) in waves throughout the 2024-2025 season. Since a limited number of doses will be available in each wave, the Immunization Program will work with sites throughout the season to place orders for Beyfortus as doses are made available. Your site will be contacted via email with a specific timeframe and amount that you are permitted to order. Do not attempt to order outside of your timeframe. Orders placed outside your timeframe will be rejected. Orders may also be adjusted to ensure adequate and equitable distribution of the available doses throughout the city.

Make sure that your contact information is up to date and that you are checking your email regularly as turnaround times are short. 

Please contact our VFC Coordinator (victor.obeck@phila.gov) or our Ordering Team (DPHproviderhelp@phila.gov) with any questions.

Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) Guidance

Beyfortus (nirsevimab) can be administered beginning October 1, 2024. If you have doses remaining from the previous season, they are still viable.

Dosage and Administration

RSV comes in two dosages:

• 50 mg
• 100 mg

Both dosages are administered as an intramuscular injection with a single-dose, pre-filled syringe, and should be ordered to properly administer by weight. 

Eligible Patients

• Infants aged <8 months born during or entering their first RSV season
  • 1 dose of nirsevimab (50 mg for infants <5 kg and 100 mg for infants ≥5kg)
• Children aged 8-19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season
  • 200 mg nirsevimab, administered by two 100 mg syringes

Click here to view more information about which children are at increased risk and should be vaccinated during their second season

Click here to view a flowchart to aid providers in determining the appropriate dose of Beyfortus (nirsevimab) for patients.

Storage and Handling

Store refrigerated between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) through the expiration date. Nirsevimab may be kept at room temperature 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) for a maximum of 8 hours. After removal from the refrigerator, nirsevimab must be used within 8 hours or discarded.

Reporting Adverse Events

Nirsevimab is the first drug product to be included in the VFC program. If nirsevimab is administered: 

• alone, suspected adverse events are reported to MedWatch
• simultaneously with any vaccine, suspected adverse events are reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) 
  • Additional reporting to MedWatch not needed

2024-2025 VFC COVID-19 Product Availability

VFC providers can order Moderna and Pfizer 2024-2025 COVID-19 products for all ages beginning on September 9 at 12pm.

Make sure that your EHR/EMR is set-up to report this year’s COVID-19 products.

These are the vaccines available this year:

When placing COVID-19 orders, please remember to:

1. Complete a current COVID-19 reconciliation.
2. Submit your temperature data. Upload the CSV file into PhilaVax. Email the LTD file to tempcheck@phila.gov.

As of Thursday, August 22, 2024, all 2023-2024 COVID-19 products are no longer approved for use.

• Stop administering all 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines. If you have administered any 2023-2024 doses since Thursday, August 22, 2024, please reach out to our ordering team at DPHproviderhelp@phila.gov for next steps.
• Remove all 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines from storage units immediately, even if they are not expired.
• Discard any open vials of vaccine. Use this guide to adjust doses out of your inventory.
• Return any unopened vials or syringes using the Vaccine Return Guide.
• Mark the reason as “Other” and, in the comment box, type in “Deauthorized.”

Ordering for Novavax vaccine will be available at a future date. We will keep you informed as we receive this information.

Get PhilaVax Alerts for Rejected Orders

Here’s a quick guide on how to turn on notifications in PhilaVax to alert you when 1) orders are rejected or 2) comments needing action are left on submitted orders.

Step 1: Navigate to the top right corner of your PhilaVax homepage screen and click on your username. Select “User Defaults.”

Step 2: Check these two boxes to get emails when your order is reviewed: “Order Rejected Alert” and “Order VFC Program Comments Updated Alert.”

Questions? Contact philavax@phila.gov.

2023-2024 COVID-19 Products Deauthorized for Use

Effective immediately, all 2023-2024 COVID-19 products are no longer approved for use.

• Stop administering all 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines.
• Remove all 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines from storage units immediately, even if they are not expired.
• Discard any open vials of vaccine.
• Return any unopened vials or syringes using the Vaccine Return Guide.
  • Mark the reason as “Other” and, in the comment box, type in “Deauthorized.”

2024-2025 COVID-19 products will be available to order once the CDC releases ordering information. We will keep you informed as we receive this information. 

Immunization Champion Award Winner: Patricia Hewson

The Immunization Champion Award, hosted by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognizes individuals doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster immunizations in their communities for children and adults.

The 46 award winners were nominated and selected from a pool of health professionals, community advocates, and other immunization leaders for significantly contributing to public health in their community.

Congratulations to the 2024 Immunization Champion Award winner for Philadelphia, Patricia Hewson, CRNP! Patty Hewson is the clinic manager at A.D.R.O.P. Unity Clinic.

Since July 2023, Patty has doubled the number of vaccines administered by A.D.R.O.P. Unity Clinic and expanded its vaccine inventory to include MMR, Prevnar 20, and the HPV vaccine.

Patty’s Impact

Patty has not only shown great leadership at the Unity Clinic in leading the cause for vaccinations, but she has also developed effective strategies to empower her entire staff to advocate for vaccinations. She instituted standing orders for the intake nurses in her clinic to address gaps in patients’ vaccination records. Since most patients who visit A.D.R.O.P. Unity Clinic are undocumented immigrants, Patricia ensures that each patient visit is an opportunity to update their vaccination schedule.

Thanks, Patty, for your contribution to improving public health through immunizations in Philadelphia!

Click here to read more about the Immunization Champion Awards.