REDCap Temp Log Submission Required January 1st

The Childhood Vaccine Program recently launched the REDCap portal for temperature log submissions! Providers enrolled in the Adult Vaccine Program (AVP) and the Childhood Vaccine Program (CVP) are required to submit temperature logs through their REDCap portal beginning January 1st. Every primary and back up vaccine coordinator should receive an email with the link to access your clinic's portal on January 1st. Automated reminders will be sent out on the 8th and 16th of the month if the temperature log has not been submitted.

Resources:

Navigating Temperature Log Submission in REDCap training recording

What to Do In a Power Outage, Preparing Your Emergency Transport Plan and Reporting Temperature Excursions in REDCap training recording

Still have questions? Drop into the Office Hours and ask!

Office Hours Dates:

• Dec 20, 2023
• Dec 27, 2023
• Jan 3, 2024
• Jan 10, 2024
• Jan 17, 2024

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Intended Audience: Providers and Vaccine Coordinators for the Childhood Vaccine Program and Adult Vaccine Program

Provider Map is Updated on the Web

The provider map includes providers enrolled in the Childhood Vaccine Program and the Adult Vaccine Program. In addition, contact information and adult vaccine types available are now included. Check out the updated map here!

Important: New Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Presentation for Persons 12y+

The current Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for persons 12y+ (NDC 00069-2362-10) available through the Childhood Vaccine Program and the Adult Vaccine Program has been replaced with a new presentation effective December 18, 2023. This new presentation is a carton of 10 prefilled syringes (NDC 00069-2377-10). It is a refrigerated formulation that has never been frozen, must be stored at 2-8C, and whose shelf life aligns with the expiration date printed on the carton and syringe labels.

Some important information to note:

• This new presentation MUST BE STORED BETWEEN 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F). Do NOT store at ultra-cold or standard freezer temperatures.
• These pre-filled syringes can be used through the expiration date printed on the carton. The 10-week beyond-use date (BUD) for refrigerator storage does not apply.
• This guidance applies to this presentation ONLY. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 6m-4y and 5-11y, which are shipped to providers directly from Pfizer on dry ice can be stored at either ultracold temperatures until expiry or up to 10 weeks at 2-8C. 

Of note: Pfizer will continue to allow providers to privately order the original single dose vial (SDV) presentation for age 12+. Therefore, providers may have BOTH presentations – SDV with a 10-week BUD and pre-filled syringe that can be used through the expiration date - in their storage units. If this occurs, please educate staff on the different storage requirements and strategies to prevent potential errors. Clinical materials are being updated to include this new presentation and storage guidance.

Below, you will find an image of the carton for this vaccine.  The carton includes a bright pink stripe that includes the words “DO NOT FREEZE” to alert about the storage and handling requirements for this vaccine. 

Providers who have the original Pfizer 12y+ vaccine on hand can and should continue to use this product until it is consumed, expired, or has been stored at 2-8C for longer than the allowable 10 weeks.  

Resources:

State Supplied COVID-19 Vaccines-at-a-Glance

Interested in Participating to Help Raise HPV Vaccination Rates?

Are you serious about preventing HPV cancers - and want to quickly raise HPV vaccination rates in your clinic? We’ll show you how to do this simply and successfully by starting HPV vaccination at age 9!  

Join cohort 3 of WCAAP’s “HPV@9”, a rapid and practical immunization quality improvement project that runs from February 2024 through June 2024. MOC part 4 credit (and possibly CME/CE credit) is available for participating providers. 

Minimal baseline data collection required, no chart reviews. Check out our HPV@9 flyer for additional details. If you have questions or would like to enroll your clinic, please reach out to DeAnna Dudley by January 8, 2024.

Happy Holidays to You

Thank you for all you do to immunize Washington's children. Your enrollment in the Childhood Vaccine Program plays a critical role in the health of Washington and we appreciate all you do to keep Washington kids healthy! We hope you have a happy holiday season.

CDC Health Advisory

In the past 4 weeks nationally, hospitalizations among all age groups increased by 200% for influenza, 51% for COVID-19, and 60% for RSV. CDC issued a health advisory to alert providers to low vaccination rates against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. The low vaccination rates and increases in respiratory disease activity could lead to more severe disease and strain the healthcare system in the coming weeks. The advisory can be access here:

Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season (cdc.gov)

Influenza-like illness is high or increasing in many states

Last week, CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView shows that seasonal influenza activity continues to increase in most parts of the country. Nationwide, 4.0% of patient visits reported through the Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network were due to respiratory illness that included fever plus a cough or sore throat. The national baseline is 2.5%. Four pediatric deaths were reported this week, bringing the total to 12 influenza-associated pediatric deaths so far during the 2023–24 season. Influenza vaccination rates are low this year and millions more people remain unprotected; please encourage vaccination.

As of December 9^th, 2023, influenza-like illness activity in Washington state is low but increasing. 9 lab-confirmed influenza-associated deaths and 9 outbreaks in long-term care facilities have been reported to the state Department of Health for the 2023-2024 season. 8.3% of specimens tested by WHO (World Health Organization) and NREVSS (National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance e System) collaborating laboratories in Washington were positive for influenza. For more detail on influenza activity, please see the weekly WA State Influenza Update.

Related Links

• CDC: Weekly National Flu Vaccination Dashboard main page
• CDC: FluView main page
• Immunize​.org: Ask the Experts: Influenza main page
• Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard | Washington State Department of Health

RSV and Nirsevimab Resources

CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics has developed multiple resources for providers and families about RSV and nirsevimab administration guidelines.

• RSV in Infants and Young Children (cdc.gov)
• RSV Options for Infant RSV Prevention At-a-Glance
• Nirsevemab-Visual-Guide.pdf (aap.org)
• Nirsevimab Frequently Asked Questions (aap.org)

What is in my child’s vaccine?

Recently we were asked about what specific ingredients were in childhood vaccinations. Vaccine ingredients can be found in the package inserts of the vaccine products. There is also a comprehensive list of CDC approved vaccines with links to their package inserts. Within the package inserts there is a section titled “Description.” This section will provide an explanation of the ingredients within the vaccination product.

You can find this list of vaccines with links to their package inserts at the following link: Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States | FDA

At this link: Ingredients in Vaccines for Children | CDC you can read about the various ingredients that help stabilize the vaccine and maintain its effectiveness.

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.

Please Update Your Contacts

Please ensure your provider agreement in the IIS has updated contacts. This is very important as we begin to use REDCap for temperature log submissions. The primary and back up coordinator contact information in REDCap comes directly from the provider agreement. If you need updates, please request your agreement be returned to you to make those edits. Thank you!