COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Texas Health and Human Services Commission sent this bulletin at 09/29/2023 03:28 PM CDT / Este e-mail ha sido enviado por Texas Health and Human Services Commission el 09/29/2023 03:28 PM CDT
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COVID-19 Vaccine Program Providers, 

 

You’re receiving this notification because of your facility’s participation in the COVID-19 response effort. Due to the commercialization of COVID-19 vaccines, the Department of State Health Services will only offer COVID-19 vaccines through the Texas Vaccine for Children (TVFC) and Adult Safety Net (ASN) Programs. As a provider not participating as a TVFC or ASN program, please follow the guidance provided to close-out your program. 

 

If you are interested in enrolling into the TVFC/ASN Program, please visit our webpage or email VacCallCenter@dshs.texas.gov to discuss provider eligibility and enrollment. 

Providers may refer patients seeking a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to the following resources:  

Note: A list of HRSA-supported health centers receiving COVID-19 Bridge funding can be found on HRSA’s website here.  

 

If you received data loggers from DSHS as part of your participation in the COVID-19 vaccine program, and do not plan to enroll into the TVFC Program, you must return the provided data loggers to DSHS via mail by October 9th, 2023. 

 

Please follow the steps below to ensure you properly dispose of and report any bivalent vaccine present in your inventory. The steps below  outline how to properly return any data loggers. 

  1. Dispose of COVID-19 vaccines as regulated medical waste, following Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guidelines by placing needles and vials in a labeled sharps container.  
  2. Report vaccine waste in the Vaccine Allocation and Ordering System (VAOS) by accessing the “Enter Vaccine Loss” tab, selecting “Enter Vaccine Loss COVID,” choosing “Vaccine Wastage,” inputting required data in the pop-up window, and selecting “Save.”
  3. To report COVID-19 inventory, access the “Enter Current COVID Vaccine Inventory” module on the VAOS homepage, and add new vaccines by selecting “New”, and update quantities as needed by editing records through the dropdown menu or the pencil icon in the “Reported Quantity on Hand” column.  
  4. Package all data logger components, including any docking stations you received from DSHS, and mail them to the following address: 

1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756 

ATTN: Brandon Nicely Williams – Data Loggers 

Mail Code: 1946 

 

DSHS will contact and assist providers who have not cleared their inventory and returned data loggers by the specified date. 

Thank you for your participation in the COVID-19 Vaccine Program. Texas is a healthier, safer place because of your efforts and DSHS appreciates everything you have done to help our vision of A Healthy Texas. 

Immunization Section DSHS