Monthly Ordering Starts September 1st

Based on feedback from providers, we are changing vaccine ordering schedules to allow all enrolled providers to order monthly. Providers will be assigned an ordering period for the first half of the month (1^st-15^th) or second half of the month (16^th – end of the month). Ordering schedules can be viewed in the IIS on the Create/View Order page. There is still a bug in the IIS that may not display the schedule correctly at this time, but we expect this to be fixed in an upcoming upgrade. 

Remember to keep your storage capabilities in mind when placing an order and be sure not to order more than you can store. Additionally, you are not required to place an order each month if you are not in need of vaccine.

Are You Planning Back to School Clinics?

Please share with us your plans around back to school vaccination clinics through a short survey. Keep in mind, offsite/mobile clinics require approval prior to the clinic.   You can find more information in the Off Site Clinic Guidelines. 

2023-24 Flu Vaccine Update

Flu season is right around the corner! The Childhood Vaccine Program will have 5 presentations of flu vaccine available this year. To help you prepare for this flu season, the Flu Vaccines At-A-Glance document has been updated for the upcoming flu season can be found on the Publicly Supplied Vaccines Webpage.

Stay tuned to the Vaccine Blurbs for more information. If you do not receive the bi-weekly Vaccine Blurbs, please contact us at WAChildhoodVaccines@doh.wa.gov.

Menveo Vaccine Presentation Change

GSK is launching their Menveo 1-vial vaccine presentation and it will be available to order September 1, 2023.

The main differences between GSK Menveo 1-vial and GSK Menveo 2-vial is the requirement for reconstitution, the age indication and the package size. The existing GSK Menveo 2-vial presentation, NDC 58160-0955-09, requires reconstitution and the new GSK Menveo 1-vial presentation, NDC 58160-0827-30, does not require reconstitution. In addition, the age indication differs between the two presentations:

• Menveo 2-vial, NDC 58160-0955-09 (existing presentation, 5-pack) is approved for use in persons aged 2 months through 55 years.
• Menveo 1-vial, NDC 58160-0827-30 (new presentation, 10-pack) is approved for use in persons aged 10 through 55 years.

GSK will continue to make both products available to support vaccination for children as young as 2 months of age.  However, the existing 2-vial presentation will be available in limited amounts and will be on allocation from CDC. It will be important to target this product for use in children aged 2 months through 2 years of age as it is the only meningococcal conjugate vaccine approved for use in this age group. 

For clinics using Menveo, beginning September 1^st your order set will be updated to the 1-vial (no reconstitution) product. For children less than 10 years old who need Meningococcal Conjugate vaccine, please email us at WAChildhoodVaccines@doh.wa.gov to discuss options and obtain a special order.

Preparing for the New Prevnar 20

In preparation for the upcoming release of Pfizer’s Prevnar 20, providers that currently receive Pfizer’s Prevnar 13 will see Prevnar 20 added to order sets in the IIS, however it will not be available to order until September 1, 2023.

Please watch future Blurbs for more information.

August is Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination. This year, NIAM serves as a focal point to get back on track with routine vaccines. During NIAM, encourage your patients to schedule appointments to ensure they are up to date on annual exams and recommended vaccines. Research shows that healthcare providers remain the most trusted source of vaccine information for parents and patients.

CDC’s NIAM web page includes two toolkits, one for reaching healthcare professionals and the other for reaching parents and patients. Each includes key messages, sample social media content, and educational resources. CDC encourages its partners to share these messages and resources throughout August using the hashtag #ivax2protect. Stay tuned for more resources to be released throughout the coming weeks.

Related Links:

• CDC: Toolkit for Reaching Healthcare Professionals main page
• CDC: Toolkit for Reaching Parents and Patients main page

For questions about the immunization schedule, the Immunization Information System forecast, or any other immunization clinical questions, please send an email to ImmuneNurses@doh.wa.gov. Check out the Immunization Training web page for more resources and training opportunities.

Updated Multi-Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)

The Multi-Vaccine VIS was updated on July 24^th. Please replace any outdated copies of this VIS with the updated version as soon as possible. Ensure the VIS publication date is updated in your electronic health record, in the Immunization Information System (if you document vaccines directly in the system), or on any paper records and screening forms.

Sign up to receive automatic VIS alerts from CDC here. Scroll down the page to where you see “Get Email Updates” on the left side of the screen.