|
|
Welcome to the COVID-19 Vaccine Partner Newsletter! Here you'll find the latest news and information on COVID-19 vaccine related topics.
|
|
Q: CAN THE UPDATED BIVALENT BOOSTER BE GIVEN AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FLU VACCINE?
A: Yes! It is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including the updated bivalent booster, at the same time as the flu vaccine or any other vaccine. It is important that everyone aged 6 months and older is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and receives an annual flu vaccine in the next few months.
Studies show health care providers are the most trusted source of vaccine information. According to the CDC, research also shows when a strong recommendation is given by a health care provider, a patient is four to five times more likely to be vaccinated.
Encourage patients and clients to receive both at the same visit. Taking a bundled, or presumptive, approach to vaccine recommendations may be helpful if you sense hesitancy. For example, you can tell your patients which vaccines they need, rather than ask them what they want. Bundling also helps if there is hesitancy about a particular vaccine but not others. For example, "you are due for your Tdap, COVID-19 and annual flu vaccines." Bundling the COVID-19 vaccine with Tdap and flu, which are routine, may put your patient at ease.
To learn more about administering the updated COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccines together, as well as the presumptive approach, below are some additional resources and many more can be found online.
Can my child get a COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine at the same visit?
How health care providers should address vaccine hesitancy in the clinical setting: Evidence for presumptive language in making a strong recommendation
|
|
BIVALENT BOOSTER SUPPLY AND DEMAND
During the initial weeks of the COVID-19 updated booster becoming available, the COVID-19 Vaccine Program anticipates a greater demand than supply for this product. We encourage providers to focus early administration based on the following considerations (see upcoming email for population examples).
- Prevent severe illness
- Persons ages 50 years and older
-
People with Certain Medical Conditions | CDC
- Certain immunocompromised individuals
- Minimize spread of disease
- People who live in multigenerational households
- People who live or work with people who are at risk of severe illness
- People who live or work in congregate settings
- People at higher risk for exposure in their workplace
- Protect communities who have been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19
- Implement health equity strategies from CDC and WA DOH
*Disclaimer: The above is not an all-encompassing or exhaustive list of populations to consider.
|
|
WHAT DOES "UP TO DATE" VACCINE STATUS MEAN?
Due to the addition of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to the recommended COVID-19 vaccine schedule, there have been many questions regarding what it means to be "up to date" on COVID-19 vaccines.
According to the CDC, "You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC."
After completing the COVID-19 primary series, the CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should receive an updated bivalent booster at least two months after their last dose (of a COVID-19 booster or primary series).
|
|
UPDATED RESOURCE ON IMPORTANCE OF PEDIATRIC COVID-19 VACCINATION
Did you know that only 4% of children ages 6 months - 4 years old in Washington state have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series? And only 33% of children 5-11 years old? The time to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is now.
We have updated our Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines: The Facts Are in the Stats resource 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.
|
|
AIM LAUNCHES NEW VACCINE GUIDANCE TOOL
Today, the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) released a new guide that is designed to equip AIM members and their staff with the tools and information necessary to promote vaccine confidence across the nation and its territories.
The Vaccine Confidence Connecting the Dots Guide offers vaccine confidence resources for various target populations. We encourage you to check out this helpful resources and others from the AIM Library
|
|
VAERS REPORTING FOR MONOVALENT BOOSTERS GIVEN TO 12 AND OLDER
On August 31, 2022, FDA amended the EUAs for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to authorize a bivalent booster dose in people aged ≥12 years and ≥18 years, respectively. Monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized as a booster in people aged ≥12 years.
Any monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster administered to people aged ≥12 years after FDA’s authorization of bivalent boosters must be reported as a vaccine administration error to VAERS. In this situation, organizations or providers may submit a single, aggregate VAERS report describing the error, how it happened, and how many people were affected. If any vaccine recipient developed an adverse event, an individual VAERS report should also be submitted.
|
|
LEARN ABOUT LONG COVID
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has compiled the most current information and resources on Long COVID, or post COVID syndrome. Launched this week on the DOH website, you can find symptoms, who is most at risk, guidance on disability rights, links to research and more.
|
|
DELAYED SHIPMENTS FOR BIVALENT BOOSTERS
The COVID-19 Vaccine Program has recently learned of delays occurring with the delivery of both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster orders.
As a reminder, shipping information for orders is uploaded into the Immunization Information System (IIS) each morning. Please review approved orders for your facility in the IIS to see if tracking information has been uploaded. Additionally, people that have been listed as the primary vaccine coordinator for their facility will receive an email from Pfizer or McKesson with the shipping information once the vaccine has shipped.
We will keep providers informed of the delay as information becomes available.
|
|
MODERNA BIVALENT BOOSTER ORDERING
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the Moderna bivalent booster was not made available to jurisdictions yesterday, Thursday, September 8th, as previously anticipated. As a result, ordering will remain off in the IIS until further notice.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Program will communicate updates to providers as information becomes available.
|
|
EXPIRY LOOK-UP PAGES
Monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized as a booster dose for individuals 12 years of age and older. As a result, providers and jurisdictions may only use this monovalent vaccine in a primary series. Over the next few months, larger than typical doses of primary series COVID-19 vaccine may expire and need to be disposed of according to state and local regulations. Remember to check the expiration dates of your inventory regularly using the manufacturer expiry look up pages.
List of Expiry Look-up Pages
For more information, refer to the CDC Operational Guidance on Identification, Reporting and Disposal of COVID-19 Vaccine.
|
|
COCA CALL: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BIVALENT COVID-19 BOOSTER DOSES
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 2:00-3:00pm ET
During this call by the Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) team, presenters will discuss CDC’s new guidance on bivalent COVID-19 booster doses for people ages 12 years and older, including those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
|
|
COVID-19 VACCINES: SCIENCE VS. ANTISCIENCE
September 26 at 12:00pm CST
North Dakota State University's (NDSU) Center for Immunization Research and Education (CIRE) will host a webinar titled COVID-19 and Vaccines: Science vs. Antiscience at 12:00 p.m. (CT) on September 26. The webinar will feature Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, discussing COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy and the impact of antivaccine sentiment and activities.
Free continuing education credits (CME) will be available for the live event. A webinar recording will not be available following the event.
|
|
PFIZER-BIONTECH BIVALENT WEBINARS
This week, Pfizer Medical began virtual training for all providers on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent (Original and Omicron BA.4/BA.5) authorized by the FDA as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older. To access dates and links for upcoming training sessions, please visit Pfizer Medical Information.
Pfizer will conduct daily trainings through September 23, 2022. They will then revert back to 3 times per week (T, W, Th).
|
|
MODERNA OFFICE HOURS & WEBINARS
Do you have questions about the Moderna bivalent booster? Moderna is providing daily opportunities for Q&A through October 6, 2022. You may register to attend any of these session at the following link: Moderna Office Hours.
In addition to the daily Q&A Office Hours, Moderna is providing educational webinars every Wednesday in September to detail the Moderna COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Booster. The information will include:
- Data supporting EUA – safety and efficacy
- ACIP Recommendations
- Storage and Handling
We hope you will take the opportunity to participate. Please register: Moderna Webinars.
|
|
NOVAVAX OFFICE HOURS
Wednesdays 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET, through October 5, 2022
Please register here for the Novavax office hours.
|
|
|
FOR SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES
FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
|
|
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.
|
|
This newsletter summarizes content from the week of September 4, 2022 and was sent out on September 9, 2022. |
|
|
|
|
