Weekly Vaccine Digest 9/23 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

County of Los Angeles, California sent this bulletin at 09/23/2022 04:02 PM PDT

Weekly Vaccine Digest 9/23

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Dear Colleagues and Partners,  

Below is the LACDPH weekly vaccine administration and order updates, upcoming webinars, and newsworthy events. Please see the links at the bottom of this page for a pdf version of this document and the links that were shared in LACDPH Wednesday 9/21 Office Hours.

If you received this email and would like to be added to our listserv, please contact our COVID-19 Provider Vaccine Call Center at covidvaccinereq@ph.lacounty.gov

Table of Contents

·        Page 1: Welcome, Order and Administration Reminders

·        Page 2: Administration Updates

·        Page 2-3: Bivalent Booster Update

·        Page 3-4: Bivalent Booster Storage and Handling

·        Page 4-5: Vaccine Transport Protocol Reminders, Vaccine Safety Facts, Upcoming/Past Webinars and Calls  

·        Page 5: Vaccine Marketplace Reminder, LACDPH/CDPH Provider Office Hours links

·        Page 6: Pfizer Update, Vaccine Wastage Update, Updated SPHO

Order and Administration Reminders

  • Please place all orders in myCAvax on or before the Monday 9/26 5pm deadline. Refer to CDPH’s Ordering and Delivery Cadence here.
    • Vaccines will be delivered on Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Columbus Day) holiday on Monday, October 10th, if your location will be closed, please update your temporary closure hours in myCAvax by October 5th
  • Third Party Redistributor, AmerisourceBergen will begin redistributing small orders of Pfizer Bivalent Boosters. There will be a 30 dose (minimum) & a 294 dose (maximum). Please order in multiples of 6 doses/vial.
  • A vaccine comparison guide can be found here.
  • COVID-19 Timing by age guide can be found here. (Spanish version can be found here.)
  • Administration Checklist can be found here.
  • Temperature excursion worksheet can be found here.
  • Preventing Administration Errors can be found here.
  • CDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Minor Consent Guidance can be found here.
  • CDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Product Training Guide can be found here.
  • CDPH COVID-19 Provider Operations Manual can be found here.
  • CDC anaphylaxis job aid can be found here.
  • CDC best practices on coadministration and all vaccinations can be found here.
  • CDC interim clinical considerations can be found here.
  • CDC Vaccine Product Information Guide can be found here.

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Administration Updates

  • 15-minute observation period now optional:
    • 15-minutes post-vaccination observation period previously recommended by CDC
    • Vaccination providers should consider an observation period:
      • Consider 15 min observation: Adolescents (risk of syncope)
      • Consider 30 min observation:
        • Allergy-related contraindication to a different type of COVID-19 vaccine
        • Non-severe, immediate (onset within 4 hours) allergic reaction after a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
      • Anaphylaxis after non-COVID-19 vaccines or injectable therapies
  • Coadministration of Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines
    • Extensive experience with non-COVID 19 vaccines has demonstrated that immunogenicity and adverse event profiles are generally similar when vaccines are administered simultaneously as when they are administered alone.
    • Providers should offer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines at the same visit, if eligible.
    • With both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 circulating, getting both vaccines is important for prevention of severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
    • Getting both vaccines at the same visit increases the chance that a person will be current with their vaccinations.
    • CDC similarities and differences between Flu and COVID-19 resource can be found here.

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Bivalent Booster Vaccine

  • Bivalent formulations of the COVID-19 vaccine authorized and recommended for use as a single booster dose at least two months following completion of a monovalent primary series; It replaces all prior booster recommendations for this age group.
  • The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older.
  • The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
  • Bivalent booster recommendation is the same for immunocompromised and immunocompetent people
  • Monovalent mRNA boosters deauthorized for Pfizer 12+, Moderna 18+
    • Monovalent mRNA booster still under EUA for Pfizer 5-11yo formulation
  • Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent fact sheet can be found here.
  • Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent fact sheet can be found here.
  • VaccineFinder has been updated with the new bivalent booster vaccines. Before receiving initial vaccine shipments, add bivalent boosters to enable inventory reporting to VaccineFinder. CDPH job aid can be found here.
  • ACIP Clinical Considerations Update slides can be found here.
  • VaccineFinder: Bivalent Boosters

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Bivalent Booster Vaccine Storage and Handling

  • Pfizer Bivalent Booster Storage & Handling:
  • Packaging: 10 6-dose multidose vials per carton and five cartons per case, minimum order of 300 doses. No diluent
  • Cap Color: Gray “Bivalent”
  • Ships: ULT/dry ice (-90°C to -60°C)
  • Storage:
    • Minimize exposure to light
    • Storage: Expiry (12 months) at ULT (-90°C to -60°C)
    • BUD refrigerated: (2°C to 8°C): 10 weeks
    • Do not store frozen (-25°C to -15°C)
    • BUD room temperature (8°C to 25°C): 12 hours
    • Do not refreeze
    • Redistribution:
      • ULT (-90° C to -60°C)
      • Refrigerated (2°C to 8°C)
      • Thaw Time: 30 minutes to 2 hours
      • Single dose vial: Thanksgiving-ish
  • Moderna Bivalent Booster Storage & Handling:
    • Packaging: 10 5-dose vials per cartoon, 2 cartons per order, 100 dose minimum order
    • Cap Color: Blue
    • Ships: Frozen (-25°C to -15°C)
    • Storage:
      • Minimize exposure to light
      • Expiry (8-9 months) at Frozen (-25° C to -15°C)
      • BUD refrigerated: (2°C to 8°C): 30 days
      • BUD Room Temperature:
        • 12 hours after puncture
        • < 24 hours total time
        • Do not refreeze
        • Redistribution:
          • Frozen (-25° C to -15°C)
          • Refrigerated (2°C to 8°C)

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Vaccine Transport Protocol Reminders

  • Designate any trusted individual with a general understanding of vaccine storage and handling and transport protocols; designee need not be a licensed healthcare provider​
  • Total transport time alone, or transport plus clinic workday, should not exceed 8 hours, or manufacturer’s guidance if it is different
  • Transport equal amounts of vaccines, diluents, and ancillary supplies
  • Transporting punctured vials and/or prefilled syringes is not recommended​
  • Monitor temperatures using a digital data logger and report temperature excursions in transit
  • The vaccines should be maintained between temperatures of 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C)​
  • Aim for an average of 40°F (5°C). This temperature setting will provide the best safety margin
  • How to Transport Vaccine:
    • Determine how many vials will be transported ​
    • Prepare to transport before removing vaccine from storage unit​
    • Remove vaccines from storage units and pack for transport​
    • Transport equal amounts of vaccines, diluents, and ancillary supplies​
    • Upon arrival, store vaccines properly according to manufacturer recommendations 
  • Basic Storage & Handling Practices:
    • Monitor temperatures twice daily​
    • Log minimum, maximum, and current temperature​
    • Review digital data logger reports to identify temperature excursions​
    • Report excursions immediately​
    • Ensure digital data logger alarms are in working order​
    • Only remove doses that will be used during the clinic​
    • At the end of the clinic day, ensure vaccine is store appropriately and temperatures are within normal limits

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Vaccine Safety Facts

The LAC DPH released ‘COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Facts for Providers’, endorsed by local medical organizations. This document presents updated safety and efficacy data about children’s COVID-19 vaccines. Please review the one-page document and share the information with colleagues and parents/caregivers of your pediatric patients.  

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Upcoming/Past Webinars and Calls

CDC All-Awardee Call: Bivalent Booster Discussion

  • Wednesday, September 28th, 12:30pm-1:45pm
  • Meeting link can be found here (Mtg ID: 160 233 7923 PW: TBwX@e1j)

CDPH: Long COVID Education Quickinar

  • Thursday, September 29th, 12:30pm-1pm
  • Registration link can be found here

Pfizer COVID-19 Medical Updates and Trainings

  • Starting September 6, 2022 meetings will be held on MS Teams
  • Session dates and times can be found here.

Biweekly myCAvax and MyTurn Office Hours

  • The registration link can be found here.

CDPH Quality Assurance (QA) Quickinar Series

California Health Action Network (CAHAN)

  • Weekly conference call on COVID-19 updates and Monkeypox
  • Tuesdays 8:00 am - 9:00 am
  • Toll-Free: 844-721-7239
  • Access Code: 7993227

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Vaccine Marketplace Reminder

 

This is a reminder that the Vaccine Marketplace is a great space for all providers to share excess doses of all vaccine types. For those who may need a refresher on what the marketplace is link here or how to post, there is a new interactive guide CDPH has released link here.

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LACDPH & CDPH Provider Office Hours Link

LA County Department of Public Health Provider Office Hours Information

  • Every Wednesday from 9am-10am.
  • MS Teams meeting link below; please create a recurring calendar invite with this link.
  • To request meeting slides, please email covidvaccinereq@ph.lacounty.gov

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California Department of Public Health Provider Office Hours Registration Link

  • Every Friday from 9am-10:30am.
  • Complete one-time registration here.
  • Meeting recordings and slides can be found here.
  • Providers should add staff names to the Provider Listserv to receive weekly emails and updates. To be added, please email blanca.corona@cdph.ca.gov

 

Pfizer Update

  • As Pfizer Orange Cap’s (Pfizer 5yrs—11yrs) expiry dates near (September, October, November 2022), we’d like to remind providers to monitor their Pfizer Orange Cap inventories. Please ensure you’re utilizing the Pfizer expiry checker(https://lotexpiry.cvdvaccine.com/) + ordering in small quantities and using what you have in stock vs ordering larger quantities.
  • Pfizer Purple Cap’s (Pfizer 12+ years) has an expiry date of September 30, 2022. We’d like to remind providers to monitor their Pfizer Purple Cap inventories and attempt to keep them until their expiration and use them as primary doses as applicable. Do not donate them outside of the U.S. If providers are unable to use them, please dispose of them at the expiry date as no shelf-life extensions have been granted.

Vaccine Wastage Update

REMINDER: Move slow! We have received multiple incidents of vaccines accidentally being left out of storage units. Please be sure to move with intent when handling the vaccine! We know you are busy working hard but PLEASE be sure all staff are trained on vaccine handling and processes are in place to avoid vaccine waste. For those who may need a refresher on how to report vaccine wastage, please visit the CDPH Interactive Guide linked here.

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Updated State Public Health Officer Order (SPHO)

On Tuesday, September 13, CDPH updated several state public health officer orders related to the testing of workers for COVID-19 to align with the most current science and recommendations from the CDC. These updates were effective 9/17/2022.

  • Order of the State Public Health Officer Requirements for Visitors in Acute Health Care and Long-Term settings can be found here.
  • Health Care Worker Protections in High-Risk Settings can be found here.
  • Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools can be found here.