Vaccine Blurbs Issue 204: Vaccine Choice Ends Soon!

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Washington State Department of Health | October 25, 2023


RSV Update

In light of the recent pause of nirsevimab ordering, CDC issued a notice via the Health Alert Network (HAN) recommending that healthcare settings that are currently experiencing shortages of nirsevimab prioritize available 100mg doses to infants at the highest risk for severe RSV disease. This includes all infants aged <6 months and select groups of older babies who have certain risk factors. Recommendations for 50mg doses of nirsevimab remain unchanged at this time.  

We appreciate your support in spreading awareness of this notice and in helping families understand other prevention strategies they can employ to help protect babies from severe RSV illness, including the RSV vaccine that can be given during weeks 32 to 36 of pregnancy, and everyday health and hygiene practices like handwashing and staying home when sick.  

Thank you for your continued support.


Fall Vaccine Choice Ends Friday

This is the last week for vaccine choice. The last day to request changes is Friday October 27th.

During this time providers can fill out the Vaccine Choice form to request a change in the brand of vaccine they receive for vaccines with more than one brand available.

Vaccines with only one brand option are included on all order sets.

Please use the following link to access the form to request changes. You only need to submit a form if you are requesting a change. If you are keeping the same vaccines no form is needed.

Submit forms either by e-mail to WAChildhoodVaccines@doh.wa.gov or by fax to 360-236-3811.

If you have any questions, please contact Jacki Stockdale at jacki.stockdale@doh.wa.gov.


Novavax is Available to Order Now

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is now available to order through the Childhood Vaccine Program. This vaccine has been added to state supplied COVID-19 order sets in the IIS.


Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Diluent Ships Separately

You may have noticed that the diluent for Pfizer's 6 months- 4 years COVID-19 product ships separately from the vaccine. This is because the diluent does not need to be kept at frozen temperatures like the vaccine does. Please be aware that the diluent will come in a separate package and may arrive on a different day from the vaccine. Please consider this when placing your vaccine orders for this product.


WVA COVID-19 Vaccine Assessment Grid

Dear Childhood Vaccine Program Provider: ­

As a reminder, effective for September 14, 2023 dates of service forward, all COVID-19 vaccines for commercially insured children (non-VFC) under the age of 19 were added to the WVA Vaccine Assessment Grid for billing purposes.

As a reminder, all COVID-19 vaccines with dates of service since September 14, 2023, should be billed to payers using the WVA’s dosage-based assessment (DBA) process. As a provider, you should have already updated your billing systems/fee schedules to include these vaccines when submitting DBAs. The WVA Assessment Grid Amount to use in the charges field is the same $105.00 for all COVID vaccines until June 30, 2024.

Please see the Provider Bulletin for details.


Reminder/Recall Resource for Immunizations & Well Child Visits

Vax Northwest, an initiative of WithinReach and the Washington Department of Health (DOH) Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers program (IQIP), have collaborated to distribute a resource, the Reminder/Recall Letter Template. This letter has 11 different languages that can be modified to include your clinics information. You can print labels directly from the IIS Reminder/Recall module for the letter and envelope. On this flyer, there are short training videos to help you navigate the module.

Please feel free to reach out to the IQIP Team if you have any questions at immunizewa@doh.wa.gov.


Clinical Corner

Medical Assistants (MA) and Nirsevimab Administration

We have received questions about MAs being able to administer nirsevimab and worked with DOH Health Services Quality Assurance Medical Assistant staff to develop more information to share.

The statutes and rules that govern the MA’s scope of practice would not prohibit them from administering nirsevimab or biologic medications. The only restriction on drug classification states that they cannot administer schedule II controlled substances, chemotherapy agents, or experimental drugs (WAC 246-827-0240).

Delegation laws state that MAs cannot be delegated anything requiring the exercise of clinical judgement, complex observation, or that presents the risk of immediate or serious harm to the patient. Whether or not the task is delegable to the MA is a decision for the healthcare organization/supervising healthcare practitioner.

For delegation rules, see links below:

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.360.060

http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-827-0110


COVID-19 and RSV Vaccine Updates Webinar

DOH hosted a webinar on 10/24/23 to discuss COVID-19 and RSV vaccine recommendations for older adults, pregnant persons, and nirsevimab for infants.  

This webinar is now available for viewing and covers the following topics:

  • Updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
  • RSV vaccine recommendations for older adults and pregnant persons
  • Recommendations for the use of nirsevimab in infants

There are continuing education credits available for this webinar. You can access this valuable information at the following link: COVID-19 Vaccine and RSV Vaccine Updates Webinar - October 24, 2023 | Washington State Department of Health


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.


Helpful Hints

New Tools Available

Please check out the new COVID-19 Vaccines at-a-Glance resource. It includes storage and handling information along with product information in a one stop resource! You can find it on the Publicly Supplied Vaccines webpage. Be sure to bookmark it on your browser for easy access. 


COVID-19 Vaccine VIS & RSV IIS Available

The CDC has published a new COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet for the 2023-24 season. In addition, RSV now has an Immunization Information Sheet available for use. Please check out the CDC's Current VIS webpage for these important updates. 

Be sure to subscribe to the page so you are notified of new VIS publications!