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Welcome to the COVID-19 Vaccine Partner Newsletter! Here you'll find the latest news and information on COVID-19 vaccine related topics.
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Q: HOW DO PROTEIN SUBUNIT COVID-19 VACCINES WORK?
A: The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine that is newly authorized for use in the United States under Emergency Use Authorization.
At first glance, the science behind how this type of vaccine works may seem complicated but this week the CDC published an easy-to-understand summary.
Protein subunit vaccines contain pieces (proteins) of the virus that causes COVID-19. These virus pieces are the spike protein. The vaccine also contains another ingredient called an adjuvant that helps the immune system respond to that spike protein in the future. Once the immune system knows how to respond to the spike protein, the immune system will be able to respond quickly to the actual virus spike protein and protect you against COVID-19.
Important facts include:
To learn more about how Novavax, and other protein subunit vaccines work, please visit the CDC website.
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CDC RECOMMENDS NOVAVAX VACCINE FOR ADULTS
Last week, the fourth COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax, received FDA authorization and as anticipated, this week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the Novavax vaccine for adults.
Washington state is currently awaiting the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup (WSSSRW) vote on this vaccine, which is expected imminently. If WSSSRW recommends the Novavax vaccine, Washington will begin receiving limited quantities of the vaccine soon. We will keep you posted as we learn more and in the meantime, see the Clinical Updates section for an operational planning guide from the CDC.
Novavax is made with a technology that was developed more than 30 years and is used to make other familiar vaccines such as hepatitis B, shingles and HPV. Novavax will be given as a two dose primary series to adults aged 18 and older.
CDC Media Statement
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NEW DISCUSSION GUIDE ON PREGNANCY AND COVID-19 VACCINATION
Pregnant people are at a higher risk for getting severely ill with COVID-19 and the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 is vaccination. There is a lot of misinformation out there about COVID-19 Vaccines during pregnancy. The CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) both strongly recommend pregnant people be vaccinated against COVID-19 and stay up to date with boosters. A recent survey conducted by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) found that people who are pregnant, even if hesitant, are more willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if their doctor or medical provider recommends it. To help guide these conversations on COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, DOH has created a discussion guide with FAQs and concerns relating to getting the COVID-19 vaccine before, during, and after pregnancy.
Check out the discussion guide today!
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FDA RECOMMENDS INCLUSION OF OMICRON BA.4/5 COMPONENT FOR COVID-19 BOOSTERS
The FDA met last month to discuss whether and how the composition of the COVID-19 vaccines should be modified.
The committee agreed that a change to the current COVID-19 vaccine strain composition is necessary at this time due to decreasing effectiveness of the current vaccines. After consider various options, the committee voted to include a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5 component for COVID-19 booster vaccines in the United States.
For more information, see all of the Event Materials from the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) Meeting.
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NEW RESOURCE ON IMPORTANCE OF PEDIATRIC COVID-19 VACCINES
The time to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is now! Check out our new resource: Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines: The Facts Are in the Stats highlighting nationwide and statewide data on the severity of COVID-19 in children and the importance of vaccination. This resource can be displayed in health care settings and sent to the parents/guardians of pediatric patients.
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POWER OF PROVIDERS INITIATIVE CELEBRATES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Last weekend marked one year since the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched the Power of Providers (POP) Initiative! With over 71,000 providers and 377 organizations represented, stopping the spread of COVID-19 has been a top priority.
To acknowledge the efforts of our POP members, DOH Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, MD, MPH, filmed a special "thank you" video.
POP members have access to a variety of resources to stay current on the latest information and educate their patients and clients on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
If you aren't a member of POP, please take a moment to learn about this great initiative and join today!
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THE IMPORTANCE OF VAERS
Now that children as young as 6 months are eligible to get vaccinated, it's a good reminder to understand what VAERS is and why it's important. DOH created this brief video to help explain and combat misinformation that your patients may be exposed to. Consider playing this video in your office and having printed copies of the fact sheet below.
Visit the VAERS website for more information.
VAERS Fact Sheet | HHS
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OPERATIONAL PLANNING FOR NOVAVAX
This week the CDC released an operational planning guide to help providers prepare for the new Novavax product.
Novavax pro rata thresholds—based on the unvaccinated adult population in each jurisdiction—were posted in Tiberius on Thursday, July 21. Not all providers are expected to carry the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine.
Open ordering for the vaccine is expected to begin Monday, July 25th (pre-ordering is not available).
Additional important details are included in the planning guide, so please take time to review with your staff.
For more information, visit the CDC website.
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HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT STORAGE AND HANDLING OF COVID-19 VACCINES?
U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has the answers. They have developed an outstanding COVID-19 Vaccine Handling Toolkit that can answer many questions and provides guidance on things such as:
- Maximizing doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine – max 15 dose vial
- Maximizing doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Video: Maximizing doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Beyond use date in vial or syringe for COVID-19 vaccines
- Transporting COVID-19 vaccines off-site
- FAQs for optimizing COVID-19 vaccine preparation and safety
- Falsified COVID-19 vaccine visual inspection guide
Visit USP for more information and to request your toolkit.
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 VIDEOS NOW AVAILABLE ON DOH WEBSITE
We recently shared with you a three part video series from our own DOH clinical team that provided tips on submitting temperature logs as well as a video covering pediatric COVID-19 vaccine updates.
If you have not had time to watch these videos and share with your colleagues and staff, please do. You can find these videos on the DOH COVID-19 Vaccine Management page in the Storage and Handling section (temp log videos) and the Training>Vaccinating Minors section (pediatric vaccine update).
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WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT: THE FUTURE OF COVID-19 VACCINES
Tuesday, July 26, 11am - 3pm ET
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the critical importance of vaccines in saving lives and protecting the economy.
Our vaccines continue to protect Americans against serious illness. At the same time, a new generation of vaccines has the potential to better prevent infections and be more broadly effective against future variants. This summit will outline a path towards these innovative, next-generation COVID-19 vaccines, featuring leaders who are on the cutting-edge of discoveries.
The agenda will be posted closer to the event. All are welcome.
RSVP today to join this free webinar.
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CREATING A SENSORY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
July 28, 2022 at 12:00pm PT
The Nevada Immunization Learning Exchange (NILE) is hosting a training for healthcare providers who administer vaccines and are interested in providing sensory-friendly vaccine clinic environments, including the use of sensory-friendly vaccine kits. Panelists will cover a variety of helpful topics including the ways in which sensory-overload can be a barrier to accessing healthcare and different coping strategies that can be used with children and youth with special healthcare needs when administering vaccines. We hope you can attend!
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COVID-19 VACCINES WEBINAR SERIES
July 29 and August 26, Noon-1pm
The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) has joined the Washington State Department of Health to host a new webinar series to help physician practices and clinics access the tools and information they need to incorporate the COVID-19 vaccines into their practice workflows and employ effective strategies to engage patients in conversations about the vaccine.
Both webinars are FREE and approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
Part 1: COVID-19 Vaccines: How to Embed them into Routine Preventive Care
Friday, July 29
Learn how to:
- Bill for COVID-19 vaccine counseling and administration
- Access small, more manageable quantities of vaccine
- Join the Power of Providers initiative
- Use DOH's provider toolkit and other resources
Learn more and register here.
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FOR SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES
FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
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SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER!
If you aren't already signed up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Partner Newsletter, please visit the Department of Health's email subscribers page here. Once you enter your email, on the next page expand the Immunization topic, select the COVID-19 Vaccine Partner Newsletter, and click submit.
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This newsletter summarizes content from the week of July 17, 2022 and was sent out on July 22, 2022. |
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