COVID-19 Update on Vaccine Investment

As vaccine supply and demand continue to evolve, we are moving to a new phase in our COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Over the past several weeks, we have shifted to having ample supply along with decreasing demand as more and more Minnesotans already have received their shot.

Together, we have achieved incredible success in vaccinating almost 60% of Minnesotans. As we enter this next phase, we are asking vaccinators to become increasingly creative in finding opportunities to offer vaccine to people in places they trust, such as during primary care visits. We understand that given the complexities of vaccine inventory management, ensuring there is vaccine available to anyone who wants it at various times may make it harder to use every single dose in a vial.

Vaccinators across the state have been good stewards of this vital public resource. As much as possible, we strongly encourage you to use creative strategies, some of which are listed below, to ensure all doses get used. However, when the choice is between getting someone vaccinated or preserving additional doses, the answer is clear: prioritize getting another Minnesotan vaccinated.

As we adapt our efforts to vaccinate EVERY Minnesotan, we are shifting our strategy to ensure that we don’t ever waste an opportunity to vaccinate one more Minnesotan. We are “investing” in getting as many Minnesotans vaccinated as possible by vaccinating everyone who is willing to receive vaccine, even if that means not every dose in a vial can be used.

Minimizing wastage

Below are several ways we expect vaccinators will implement to minimize wasted doses:

• Store your vaccine at the temperature with the longest expiration time possible until you need it. Know the exact storage and handling requirements, including thawing and refrigerator times, for each of the vaccines you are working with by printing and referring to the EUA Fact Sheets for Healthcare Providers. Find them at FDA: COVID-19 Vaccines.
• In a clinic setting, look ahead at your schedule and the patients’ records and/or MIIC to assess the need for COVID-19 vaccine. This will help anticipate how much vaccine will need to be used on a daily or weekly basis.
• Label vials as they are opened with the date, time, and expiration time. Draw up only the dose being administered to a specific patient.
• Minimize open vials. Do not open another vial until you have used all the doses in the current vial. Do not “pool” vaccine or combine residual vaccine from multiple vials to obtain a dose.
• Keep multi-dose, labeled vials in a central location, so multiple vaccinators have access to the same vial to increase the likelihood of all doses being used.

Tracking wastage

Accurately tracking wastage will continue to be a priority. Registered COVID-19 providers must report vaccine wastage in the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC). For a complete guide on reporting non-viable vaccine, please review Reporting Nonviable COVID-19 Vaccine to MIIC (PDF).

When using MIIC to report, please disregard any automatic email responses you may get about shipping labels or expired or spoiled COVID-19 vials. COVID-19 vaccine cannot be returned to the manufacturer or McKesson. Dispose of vials per recommendations found in MDH’s Interim COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guide at COVID-19 Vaccine Providers.

COVID-19 vaccine help

For COVID-19 vaccine management assistance, contact the Immunization Program staff at health.mdhvaccine@state.mn.us or 651-201-5522 (1-800-657-3970).