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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: ARE MONOVALENT VACCINES REALLY NO MORE?
A: While monovalent mRNA vaccines (COMIRNATY/Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and SPIKEVAX/Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine) are no longer approved or recommended, there remains a non-mRNA monovalent option to those who cannot or will not receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Novavax remains available to order as an authorized monovalent vaccine in WAIIS. All Novavax ordered now is in the new 5 dose/vial presentation. This presentation has an expiration date of October 31, 2023. The minimum order quantity and increment for Novavax continues to be 100 doses. Any Novavax product ordered before April 3, 2023 in the 10 dose/vial presentation, expired at the end of April.
DOH Novavax Resources:
A note on J&J:
While J&J/Janssen was another non-mRNA monovalent option, all remaining doses of J&J/Janssen vaccine expire on May 6, 2023. The Department has rescinded the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) Statewide Standing Orders for Administering Vaccine to Persons 18 Years of Age and Older, dated April 8, 2022, effective May 6, 2022. Any vaccine that remains in your inventory should be reconciled in the Immunization Information System (IIS) and disposed of in accordance with clinic protocol for waste. As products continue to expire and retire, please ensure your inventories are up to date in both WAIIS and VaccineFinder. If you have any questions or concerns, please send them to COVID.vaccine@doh.wa.gov.
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DOH OFFERS UPDATED RESOURCES FOLLOWING NEW CDC RECOMMENDATIONS
Following the new FDA authorization and CDC recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccines that came out last month, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has worked to update our resources and webpages.
Please ensure that the resources you are using are current and discard any COVID-19 vaccine health education materials that contain outdated information.
Updated provider webpages:
Updated general webpages:
Updated resource documents:
SIGNED STANDING ORDERS
DOH has updated standing orders as of May 4, 2023. You can find links to DOH standing orders on the Clinical Information for COVID-19 Vaccine Providers page under the Standing Orders heading.
After May 11, 2023, COVID-19 vaccine orders from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will no longer be valid. As a result of the end of the Federal Public Health Emergency, DOH will not have authority to release or maintain signed COVID-19 vaccine standing orders. Consequently, all state COVID-19 vaccine standing orders will not be valid after May 11. Facilities or organizations that have relied on DOH standing orders should determine another signature authority to decrease disruption to vaccine services. Standing order templates are available from the CDC here.
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NEW MESSAGING FOR END OF THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
The Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) has created a new resource with topline messaging to help keep your community informed about what the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) means for your constituents, questions to consider when communicating about COVID-19 and the end of the PHE to your community, and additional resources. Here are some topline messages from their new resource:
- When the public health emergency ends, COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be free for all, as long as the supply of federally purchased vaccines lasts.
- Coverage for COVID-19 testing and treatment will now vary by insurance type.
- The end of the PHE doesn’t mean that COVID-19 is over. CDC continues to recommend that everyone stays up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, take a test if you have symptoms or have been exposed, and wear a high-quality mask when COVID-19 levels are high.
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IMMUNIZATION CHAMPION AWARD 2023
The Washington State Department of Health is now seeking nominations for the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) Immunization Champion Award for 2023.
The Immunization Champion Award recognizes local immunization efforts in Washington state and across the nation. We are looking for nominees which do an exemplary job at promoting or fostering immunizations in their communities. Individuals can be recognized for their work in any vaccine category (e.g. Flu, HPV, or COVID-19) across the lifespan or routine childhood vaccination.
If you are interested in nominating someone, you can download the nomination packet on the AIM webpage.
All nominations for the state of Washington must be emailed to the Washington State Department of Health at phillip.wiltzius@doh.wa.gov by May 26, 2023.
The official Immunization Champion Award winners for each state will be announced in August during National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). The Department of Health will also share nominees on our Immunization Champions webpage.
We look forward to hearing about your community's immunization leaders!
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6 MONTHS TO 5-YEAR-OLD MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE
Last month the CDC updated their recommendation for the use of COVID-19 vaccines. There have been many questions regarding the 6 months to 5 years Moderna Bivalent vaccine. There are two formulations that are authorized for this age group. The first come in a pink cap with yellow label vial and provides 10mcg/0.2ml dose. This vial/formulation is only recommended for those children that have received at least two monovalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses. If the child has not received at least two doses of monovalent Moderna, they should be given the Moderna bivalent vaccine that comes in a vial with the dark blue cap and gray label border. Yes, this is the same formulation used for all of the other ages. Children needing one or both of their initial COVID-19 vaccine doses should receive 0.25ml which will be 25mcg (the same dose for children 6-11 years old).
You can find more information on this and more at the following links:
Moderna HCP Fact Sheet 6m+ 04182023 (fda.gov)
Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC
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CDC RELEASES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released recommendations for vaccination of immunocompromised individuals. Anyone 6 months of age and up who is immunocompromised can receive an additional dose as long as it has been at least two months since their last dose. Most people ages 6 years and older who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised and have received one dose of a bivalent mRNA vaccine do not need any further vaccine doses at this time. These recommendations show there is greater flexibility for those severely immunocompromised to receive additional doses with recommendations by their primary care providers.
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UPCOMING PEER-TO-PEER WEBINARS
Behavioral Health Support for HealthCare Workers Series
Speaker: Dr. Kira Mauseth, Clinical Psychologist & Senior Instructor of Psychology at Seattle University.
All sessions held from 12:00PM-1:00PM PST. Register through the links below.
Explore the Power of Providers webpage today!
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COVID-19 WORKSHOP SERIES – IMPROVING COVID-19 VACCINATION RATES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5
Participate in the final session of the COVID-19 virtual workshop series! This workshop promotes peer-to-peer discussion to explore and share best practices related to COVID-19 vaccination strategies for children under age five, with an emphasis on rural communities.
- Workshop #3 - Friday, May 12th - 12:00PM-1:00PM PST
- Strategies to Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence
Sessions 1 and 2 have already occurred, however participants are able to attend individual sessions. To enroll, please complete the following Survey Monkey. You will then receive a calendar invite with the information to join the respective sessions via Zoom.
COVID-19 Survey Monkey – Enrollment Form
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WASHINGTON STATE IMMUNIZATION SUMMIT 2023
Date: Thursday, May 25th
Time:
- In-person schedule: 7:30AM - 4:30PM (7:30AM check-in & breakfast / 8:30AM welcome)
- Virtual schedule: 8:30AM – 4:30PM
Location: Greater Tacoma Convention Center | 1500 Commerce Street Tacoma, WA 98402 / Virtual
Cost: Virtual: $150/In-person: $200 *Rates will increase after May 14th*
The 2023 Immunization Summit will:
- Provide tools, skills and knowledge to be successful in equitably improving vaccination rates
- Celebrate and highlight the work of the immunization community
- Share lessons learned and experiences through the COVID-19 pandemic
- Provide an opportunity to learn about emerging and ongoing immunization best practices to apply to diverse communities
Topics will include lessons learned from COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, community-based initiatives, “HPV at 9” in Washington State, practical strategies to addressing vaccine hesitancy, and the current state of immunizations in Washington. This year’s event will be presented in a hybrid format.
Learn more about the summit and register today on Eventbrite!
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2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON VACCINOLOGY RESEARCH
Join colleagues from around the world for interactive discussions on the latest developments in vaccinology at the online 2023 Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research on June 5-7, 2023. Trailblazing scientists in vaccinology and other leading experts will discuss scientific advances in vaccine research and the future of vaccinology. Space is limited so register now to reserve a spot.
View the Conference Agenda.
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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 beginning the week of April 30, 2023 and was sent out on May 5, 2023. |
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