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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: WHEN IS SOMEONE CONSIDERED "FULLY VACCINATED" OR "UP TO DATE" NOW?
A: A person is considered fully vaccinated after completing all doses in their primary series. A person is considered up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines when they have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for them by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- If they have completed their primary series—but are not yet eligible for a booster—they are also considered up to date.
- They do not need to be revaccinated or receive an additional booster if they become ill with COVID-19 after they received all COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for them.
- A booster dose is for patients after immunity/protection from the initial vaccines begins to decrease over time.
Immunocompromised individuals may need additional doses, and therefore need to complete all recommended doses to them to be considered up to date.
- An additional dose, not to be confused with a booster dose, is for some patients who completed a primary vaccine series but did not have a strong enough immune response.
Keeping patients up to date with booster doses as soon as they are eligible is their best protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19.
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MOST U.S. ADULTS HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED AN UPDATED BIVALENT COVID-19 BOOSTER
A recent edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) has linked to two ongoing reports regarding early estimates of bivalent mRNA vaccine effectiveness in preventing COVID-19–associated hospitalization among adults with a normal immune response.
These reports aim to provide implications for public health practice, concluding that all persons, especially those over 65 years of age, should stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including receiving a bivalent booster dose if eligible. In addition, to maximize protection against severe COVID-19 this winter season, all persons should consider additional prevention strategies, including masking in indoor public spaces.
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DOH URGES LONG-TERM CARE FACILITES TO ENCOURAGE COVID-19 AND FLU VACCINATIONS
The winter months are upon us, and we are beginning to see increasing cases of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV. The adults aged 65 years and older population is among the most vulnerable to severe illness, hospitalization and death caused by these diseases; therefore, it is increasingly important to encourage vaccinations for patients, families of patients, and the staff working with them. The Department of Health has recently put out an urgent message to those working in long-term care facilities (LTCF) with these high-risk populations. This important message offers information for providers, specifically those working in LTCF, as well as provides CDC data and resources for providers and their patients/families.
View the message here.
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UPDATED RESOURCE ON IMPORTANCE OF PEDIATRIC COVID-19 VACCINATION
Did you know that only 9% of children 6 months-4 years old in Washington state have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series? And 16% of children 5-11 years old have received their updated booster? 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. We also have created a new resource: COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters: The Facts Are in the Stats (PDF) highlighting the importance of staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. These resources can be displayed in health care settings and given to patients.
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UPDATED PROVIDER RESOURCE ON COVID-19 VACCINE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
COVID-19 vaccine inventory getting even fuller? We have updated our COVID-19 Vaccine Product Characteristics Table to serve as a convenient, one page comprehensive reference guide for all COVID-19 vaccine products in your inventory, including the new Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster single-dose vial and the new baby/pediatric bivalent booster products.
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DOH PROVIDES NEW ON-HOLD MESSAGING FOR PROVIDERS' PATIENTS
DOH has recorded new messaging you can add to your phone systems for patients who call in and are placed on hold. The message encourages callers to get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and directs them to DOH’s vaccine locator. The recordings are available in English (31 seconds) and Spanish (38 seconds).
If you need more information about how to use the recordings, please reach out to us at powerofproviders@doh.wa.gov
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UPDATED TOOLKIT: COVID-19 BOOSTER DOSE MESSAGING AND OUTREACH TOOLS
The Public Health Communications Collaborative (PCHH) has an updated toolkit for providers which includes topline talking points, answers to tough questions, sample social media posts and graphics — all to help you answer questions about updated COVID-19 booster doses and support your local vaccination outreach.
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EXPIRING MODERNA LOT NUMBERS
We have received a reminder from the CDC regarding expiring Moderna lot numbers.
Our ask is that you double check your inventory for these lot numbers. If you don’t have any of these lot numbers, no action is needed.
If you do have them, please
- Use these lot numbers first
- If you don’t think you will use them, put them on the vaccine advertisement page
How to Search and Advertise available COVID-19 vaccine for transfer
- Make sure your WAIIS and VaccineFinder accounts are up to date
The below lot numbers will be expiring within the next 11 days.
AR8359B AR8358B
086B224 AR8362B
AR8360B AR8363B
010L21A 013C22A
087B22A AR8364B
088B22A 014C22A
AR8361B 020B22-2A
089B22A 043C22A
090B22A FT9142
048C22A
Additional monovalent Moderna products have received shelf-life extensions. Moderna has verified the new expiry dates below and updated the Moderna Vial Expiration Checker.
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PFIZER AND MODERNA SHELF LIFE EXTENSIONS
PFIZER
Pfizer has received shelf-life extensions of all TRIS products (i.e., all mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including both monovalent and bivalent vaccines).
Expiry is now 18 months from the date of manufacture (stored ULT frozen).
Please use the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Expiry tool to check expiration dates.
NOTE: This expiration date extension applies to both vaccine vials currently stored at ultra-cold temperatures (-90°C and -60°C [-130°F and -76°F]) and at refrigerated temperatures (2°C and 8°C [36°F and 46°F])–even if these vials were moved to refrigerated temperatures prior to the extension.
MODERNA
Additional monovalent Moderna products have received shelf-life extensions. All lots in the set below are MOD 5 (ages 6-11) for primary use only. Moderna has verified the new expiry dates below and updated the Moderna Vial Expiration Checker.
NOTE: This expiration date extension applies to both vaccine vials currently stored at both frozen temperatures between (-50°C and -15°C [-58°F and 5°F]) and refrigerated temperatures (2°C and 8°C [36°F and 46°F])–even if these vials were moved to refrigerated temperatures prior to the extension.
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MESSAGE FROM H-CORE: THRESHOLD UPDATES
On January 26th, the FDA VRBPAC will consider whether and how the composition and schedule for primary doses and boosters should be modified. As we learn about the evolution of this response, we’ll continue to move forward with you in partnership, modifying our actions to maximize your capabilities and ease your workloads when possible.
To that end, H-CORE has decided to remove thresholds for all monovalent vaccines starting on January 3rd (Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, Novavax). While we’re still shipping millions of monovalent doses each week, we want these products to go where they are needed without restrictions. While it is unlikely, we could put thresholds back on individual products if there becomes a need to ensure equitable availability or if circumstances around FDA decisions change.
In the first week of January, we are also going to make additional Pfizer 12+ bivalent single-dose vials available for order by jurisdictions and federal entities. The availability of single-dose vials continues to expand access across the U.S., and we want to ensure there is enough of this product to meet the needs of our providers.
H-CORE also intends to continue making operational improvements to better ensure COVID-19 vaccines are accessible and available to every U.S. resident who wants and is eligible to receive one. This includes bringing Moderna bivalent 12+ vaccine thresholds in line with all other vaccines and targeting where they go based on the updated vaccine eligible population in each jurisdiction. This slight adjustment in threshold levels will better ensure that sufficient vaccine is reaching jurisdictions with a higher need for doses due to having greater eligible populations.
Finally, as this enterprise continues to pivot in response to regulatory actions and real-world changes, we will continue working together to ensure a successful path for COVID-19 medical countermeasures distribution. With commercialization on the horizon, our goal is to support stakeholders in finding new ways to maximize continued access and availability of these lifesaving products for the American people, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.
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STANDING ORDERS AVAILABLE THROUGH DOH WEBSITE
Did you know that you can access standing order authorizations from the state of Washington and templates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Department of Health website? The Clinical Information for COVID-19 Vaccine Providers page offers resources for training, webinars, extensive clinical resources, FAQs, and links to all standing order authorizations.
COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer and Moderna standing orders down to six months of age are now available:
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INCLEMENT WEATHER REMINDER AND RESOURCES FOR PROVIDERS
Planning for Inclement Weather & Power outages
When inclement weather is expected, power outages and shipping delays are also possible. It's always a good time to remember the resources and processes in place to safeguard the publicly funded vaccines at clinics around Washington and ensure your vaccine management plan is up to date.
As a provider in the Washington State COVID-19 Vaccine Program, please ensure vaccines maintain stable temperatures. If you experience a power outage, please refer to the COVID-19 Temperature Excursion Guide.
If vaccines need to be moved to an alternative location, please remember emergency transport does not require prior approval. If vaccines are transported, ensure that a digital data logger is used to record vaccine temperatures while in transit.
Report all temperature excursions to COVID.vaccine@doh.wa.gov and remember that when a temperature excursion occurs, no matter how brief, the manufacturers of each vaccine involved in the excursion should be contacted to verify vaccine viability. Please refer to the additional resources below for more information.
Resources:
Vaccine Temperature Excursion Guide
Vaccine Transport Guidelines
DOH Storage and Handling Webpage
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POWER OF PROVIDERS UPCOMING WEBINARS
POP Webinars occurring in January 2023:
The Work Starts Here: Supporting Employees with Long COVID
Behavioral Health Support Refresher for Health Care Workers Webinar Series
Active Coping in the Long-Term: Health Care Provider Resilience
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SHEA SPRING 2023 CONFERENCE ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE APPROACHING
The SHEA Spring Conference will be held on April 11-14, 2023 in Seattle, WA and will include topics on healthcare epidemiology, antibiotic stewardship, long-term care, research methods, clinical microbiology, patient safety and quality, implementation science, and COVID-19. The call for abstracts is open and the deadline is January 11, 2023. Scholarship opportunities to attend the conference are available, and applications are due on December 31, 2022.
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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 following the week of December 18, 2022 and was sent out on December 30, 2022. |
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