Weekly Vaccine Update and Order Reminder 11/12

County of Los Angeles, California sent this bulletin at 11/12/2021 04:58 PM PST

Weekly Vaccine Update and Order Reminder 11/12

Direct Shipment Vaccine Delivery Holiday Cadence

  • To ensure your vaccine needs will be met throughout the rest of November, please place your orders in myCAvax by the Monday 11/15 at 5pm deadline. No vaccine deliveries will occur on Wednesday November 24 through Sunday November 28.

Administration Errors

Formulations of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines are NOT interchangeable.

  • If a child 5-11 years of age inadvertently receives a 30 ug dose for their first dose, they should receive a single age-appropriate 10 ug dose for their second dose 21 days later and should be considered as having a completed primary series.
  • If a child ages 5-11 years inadvertently receives a 30 ug dose for their second dose, they should be considered has having completed primary series.

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Training and Education

Date & Time (hyperlink to session) Password

Coadministration

COVID-19 vaccines may be administered without regard to timing of other vaccines. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines the same day.

If multiple vaccines are administered at a single visit, administer each injection in a different injection site, according to recommendations by age.

  • Separate injections sites by 1 inch or more.
  • For older children (> 11 years), the deltoid muscle can be used.
  • For younger children (5-10 years), if more than 2 vaccines are injected in a single limb, the vastus lateralis muscle of the anterolateral thigh is the preferred site because of greater muscle mass.

Booster Update

The FDA expanded the emergency use authorizations for Moderna and Janssen COVID-19 vaccines to include a booster dose following the primary series. The CDC also expanded eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots following the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Most recently, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup (WSSSRW) recommended COVID-19 booster doses for Moderna and Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. 

Please see the CDPH letter that was sent out to providers regarding administering booster doses.

These and previous recommendations for are summarized in this linked table COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility table.

Mix-and Match Booster Dose

The same product that was used for the primary regimen should be used for the booster.

  • If that is not available or another product is preferred, heterologous boosting with a single dose of any of the FDA EUA COVID-19 vaccine boosters is acceptable
  • Heterologous dosing may be considered for the booster dose only. All doses of the primary series and additional doses should utilize the same vaccine product.

Safely Drawing up Vaccine

  • Do not use vial adaptors or spikes
    • Use of vial adaptors or spikes are not recommended by CDC or U.S. Pharmacopeia to extract doses from COVID-19 vaccine vials.
      • Risk of contaminating the vaccine is too great. Unlike many vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines do not contain a preservative, which increases the risk for potential contamination.
  • Do not leave the needle inserted for multiple vaccine draws.
    • A needle should not be left inserted into a vial septum for multiple uses.
      • Provides a direct route for microorganisms to enter vial and contaminate the fluid.

Routine Standard Orders

Starting Monday, November 8, the pediatric product will be available for Standard Order in myCAvax with a minimum quantity of 100 doses. Remember to submit all orders by 5 PM, Monday, November 15, and ensure that you are planning for vaccine needs through the Thanksgiving weekend due to the pause in vaccine deliveries from 11/24/21 through 11/28/21.

Small Orders for Pediatric Product

Small orders may continue to be submitted for quantities less than 90 doses.

Updated Vaccine Product Guides Available Now

CDC has updated the COVID-19 Vaccine Product Information Guide for both the Pfizer pediatric product and Moderna booster ancillary supplies. This guide provides detailed specifications for vaccine and associated products, including product package dimensions and weight, product presentation, kit supplies, storage & handling, and more. This guide is updated as more products become available.

CDC's Quick Reference Guide for HCPs (compares all available products in one chart) has also been recently updated.

CalVax Grant

CalVax grant deadline has been extended to 12/17/21. For information on how to apply click here.

Webinars to provide information on grant process and answer provider questions.

Resources