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To ensure proper vaccine management and reduce unnecessary waste, we want to remind providers about the guidelines for publicly funded vaccine returns:
- Only expired or spoiled (non-viable) publicly funded vaccines are to be returned to McKesson.
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Vaccine returns are not permitted for ordering errors. If the wrong product is ordered, it cannot be sent back through the return process.
Per page 22 of the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Policy and Procedure Manual,
“providers who order the wrong vaccine are responsible for administering those vaccines before the expiration date.”
If you find that you have excess vaccine due to ordering the wrong product, there are two options:
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Administer the vaccine as appropriate to eligible patients before it expires.
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List the vaccine on the redistribution list so that other providers who need it can use it.
Proper vaccine management helps protect the integrity of the program, minimizes waste, and ensures doses are available for patients who need them.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the responsible use of publicly funded vaccines.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your Regional Immunization Nurse or the Nurse On-Call at 877-296-0464.
The vaccine cold chain is a temperature-controlled system that keeps vaccines safe and effective from the manufacturer to administration. Even brief exposure to heat, cold, or light can reduce potency—and once lost, it cannot be restored. Every link in the cold chain matters. Quick action protects vaccine potency and patient protection.
Best Practices for Receiving Shipments
- Have staff onsite to receive vaccine deliveries.
- Keep delivery hours updated in KSWebIZ so shipments arrive only when staff are available.
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Train all receiving staff to immediately notify the primary or backup vaccine coordinator so vaccines are checked in and stored without delay.
Unpacking and Storage Steps
- Open the cooler immediately and follow the TagAlert receiver instructions.
- Verify the packing list against the contents of the cooler.
- Inspect each vaccine package for any issues such as broken seals or damage.
- Store vaccines immediately in the correct storage unit.
- Repack the EcoFlex cooler for refurbishing.
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EcoFlex coolers must be returned via UPS. Do not dispose of them.
- If no return label is provided, email KDHE.Vaccine@ks.gov to request one.
KoolTemp coolers are not returnable. They will not include a pre-paid return label and may be discarded after unpacking.
Need Help?
For any questions or concerns, please contact your Regional Immunization Nurse or the Nurse On Call at 877-296-0464.
The Kansas Immunization Program is pleased to announce that KSWebIZ now participates in the CDC’s Immunization (IZ) Gateway. This national network supports the secure exchange of immunization data between states and enhances the completeness of patient vaccination records within KSWebIZ.
At this time, KSWebIZ is connected with the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
It is important to note:
- Records from these states are automatically loaded into KSWebIZ through the IZ Gateway. Providers do not need to take any additional action for this process.
- These connections assist in completing patient records within KSWebIZ but do not provide the ability to directly search another state’s IIS.
- Providers who require a complete immunization record from another state must continue to follow that state’s legal process for obtaining records.
- KSWebIZ remains the official system of record for all vaccines administered in Kansas.
This enhancement strengthens continuity of care for Kansas patients who receive vaccinations both in-state and across state lines.
At this time, KDHE is still following CDC recommendations on Isolation as related to active TB disease.
For patients with presumptive or confirmed TB disease, airborne precautions may be discontinued when infectious TB disease is considered unlikely, and either another diagnosis is made, or the patient has three consecutive negative sputum smear results and symptoms have improved. Each of the three sputum specimens should be collected in 8- to 24-hour intervals (at least one being an early morning specimen). When a person with TB has met those conditions and received adequate TB treatment for two weeks or longer, they may be released from AII (CDC 2021 p.143).
We will continue to watch for any updates in those recommendations. Please see Core Curriculum on Tuberculosis and watch out for updates on CDC's TB home page.
Speed-Up Scale-Up TB Testing: Maximizing Impact of Newer and Emerging Diagnostics Sept.11, 2025 at 7 a.m. CST.
St. Louis PTC - STI Intensive Course Day 1 Sept. 11, 2025 at 8 a.m. CST.
St. Louis PTC - STI Intensive Course Day 2 Sept. 12, 2025 at 8 a.m. CST.
Check out our full training list.
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