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The Kansas Immunization Program (KIP) has updated the “Vaccine Compromised During Shipment,” section of the KIP Policy and Procedure Manual to reflect current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and McKesson Central Distribution guidance. This guidance has changed the reporting timeframe for compromised vaccine shipments from within 24 hours to immediately, on the same day the shipment arrives. Failure to contact the central distributor or direct ship manufacture on the same day the vaccine arrives may result in the provider being held responsible for any avoidable vaccine loss.
Vaccine Compromised During Shipment
If it is believed a vaccine shipment was compromised or did not arrive as scheduled, the provider must contact the Regional Immunization Nurse or email KDHE.vaccine@ks.gov immediately.
Providers should also contact:
Centralized distributor shipment: Providers should contact centralized distribution immediately at 1-877-TEMP123 (1-877-836-7123). This must be done on the same day the vaccines are scheduled to arrive. Failure to contact the central distributor on the same day the vaccine arrives may result in the provider being held responsible for any avoidable vaccine loss.
Direct shipment from manufacturer: Providers should contact the manufacturer immediately at cdcshipping.merck.com. Failure to contact the manufacturer on the same day the vaccine arrives may result in the provider being held responsible for any avoidable vaccine loss. The Kansas Immunization Program will work with the manufacturer directly with questions about storage temperature or temperature excursion for specific vaccines. Manufacturers have access to internal thermostability data on the impact of exposure to inappropriate temperatures or light for each vaccine lot.
If you have any questions, please contact kdhe.vaccine@ks.gov.
As flu vaccination season winds down and June expiration dates approach, now is the time for providers to review their inventory and prepare for timely and proper vaccine returns. Let’s take a moment to review what publicly funded vaccines can be returned and how to complete the process.
What can be returned?
Expired or spoiled vaccines: non-viable vaccines in their original container, such as an unopened/unpunctured vial or prefilled syringe. All expired and spoiled vaccine should be returned. Punctured multidose vials, such as IPV, cannot be returned.
Spoiled vaccines are the result of:
- Natural disaster/power outage
- Refrigerator too warm or too cold
- Failure to store properly upon receipt.
- Vaccine spoiled in transit.
- Mechanical failure
- Recall
Expired vaccine must be returned after the expiration date. Vaccine cannot be returned before the expiration date. Expired vaccine should be reported within 72 hours in KSWebIZ by completing a vaccine return in KSWebIZ. Vaccines are then packaged and returned to McKesson via UPS.
DO NOT REMOVE EXPIRED OR SPOILED PUBLICLY FUNDED VACCINE FROM YOUR INVENTORY IN KSWEBIZ! It will be automatically removed from your inventory when the KSWebIZ return has been processed.
For more information on how to submit a vaccine return, see the KSWebIZ User Manual.
If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Immunization Nurse or the Nurse On-Call at (877) 296-0464 or email at kdhe.immconsultant@ks.gov.
Call for Nominations!
We are searching for the next Kansas Immunization Champion and need help. If you know someone in your community who is fostering immunizations, please help us honor and recognize their efforts!
The Immunization Champion Award recognizes individuals who are working at the local level and is hosted by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM). The national award honors those doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster immunization in their community for children and adults.
Anyone can nominate an Immunization Champion. Champions are selected by their local or state immunization programs, who evaluate nominees by the following criteria: leadership, collaboration, innovation, and/or advocacy. Learn more about this prestigious award and access the nomination form here.
Nominations must be submitted by June 4, 2026, and the champion will be notified in early August.
Champion Eligibility:
Individuals can be recognized for their work in childhood, adolescent, or adult vaccinations.
Who is eligible?
- Health care professionals (i.e., pharmacists, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants)
- Nonprofit leaders
- Community activists
- Parents
- School and education leaders
- Coalition members
- Community-based organization members
- Immunization partners
For a list of complete ineligibility criteria, review the ineligibility section of the nomination form here.
If you have any questions or to submit nominations, please contact Krissi O’Dell, Immunization Nurse Educator, via email at Krissi.odell@ks.gov.
Additional information can also be found at Immunization Champion Awards - Association of Immunization Managers.
KSWebIZ Public Portal: Helping Patients Access Their Immunization Records
Did you know that the Kansas Immunization Information System (KSWebIZ) now offers a Public Portal that allows patients to securely access their own immunization records?
The Public Portal gives individuals and families a convenient way to view and download official immunization records without needing to contact your office or the KSWebIZ Helpdesk.
Patients can access the Public Portal here: https://myvaccinerecord.ks.gov/
How You Can Help.
We are asking for your support to help make the Public Portal as effective as possible.
For patients to successfully access their record through the portal, their KSWebIZ record must include:
- A valid email address or
- A current mobile phone number
This contact information is used to verify identity and allow secure access. Without it, patients may not be able to complete the authentication process.
What We’re Asking Providers to Do.
- Encourage patients to use the Public Portal when they need a copy of their immunization record
- Capture and enter a current email address or mobile phone number in KSWebIZ whenever possible
- Review and update existing patient contact information during visits
Even small improvements in contact data can significantly increase successful access rates for patients.
Why This Matters. Accurate contact information not only supports Public Portal access but also improves overall data quality across KSWebIZ. This leads to better patient matching, more complete records, and a smoother experience for both providers and patients.
Need Help or Have Questions? If you have questions about the Public Portal or need assistance updating patient records, please contact the KSWebIZ Helpdesk at: kdhe.ImmunizationRegistry@ks.gov or 1-877-296-0464
In recognition of Hepatitis Awareness Month in May, the Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC), in collaboration with the Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (KAAP), and the Kansas Hospital Association (KHA), developed a campaign emphasizing the importance of the HepB birth dose.
When babies receive the HepB vaccine at birth, they are protected during their most vulnerable time because many people, including caregivers and family members, may not know they have hepatitis B.
The campaign includes:
Additional campaign materials will be released throughout May. All resources can be found on IKC’s hepatitis B webpage.
When sharing the toolkit, viewers are encouraged to tag the organization's social media channels: @immunizekscoalition @KansasChapterAAP @kansashospitals.
The CDC and FDA work together to manage the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a vaccine safety monitoring system. Anyone, patients, parents, healthcare providers, and vaccine manufactures, can and is encouraged to report an adverse event to VAERS. Completing a VAERS report is a simple process that provides valuable information to ensure the continued safety of vaccines.
Healthcare providers are required by law to report adverse events listed in the VAERS Table of Reportable Events. While each vaccine has specific related adverse events, these events are always reportable if they occur within seven days after a vaccination: vasovagal syncope and shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. VAERS also serves as a continuous monitoring system for vaccine safety.
Healthcare providers are also encouraged to report vaccine administration errors and any adverse events that occur after a licensed vaccine is administered even if it’s unclear whether the vaccine caused the event. While it is important to take the time to avoid vaccine administration errors, humans make mistakes. Using VAERS to report vaccine administration errors allows for persistent administration errors to be identified.
VAERS encourages online reporting at Report an Adverse Event to VAERS. While more information is appreciated, reports at minimum require patient age, date of birth, and sex; vaccine brand name and dosage; date, time and location administered; date and time when adverse event(s) started; symptoms and outcome of adverse events; and applicable physician contact information and medical tests. A VAERS checklist contains all accepted fields in a VAERS report can be used to make sure all data elements are identified.
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month and May 19 was National Hepatitis Testing Day! Please take some time to review these helpful resources as we continue to raise awareness about hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C!
Please see these helpful resources:
Substance Use Disorder in People with HIV Series Part V: From Narratives to Navigation; Integrated Addiction and HIV Care May 21, 2026 at noon CST
Kansas Fights Addiction ECHO: Caring for Complex Needs: Dual Diagnosis and Maternal Health May 26, 2026 at noon CST
Challenges Managing the Young Child Exposed to TB: A Case-based Discussion May 28, 2026 at noon CST
Click here for our full training list.
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