This email is being sent to local health officers, tribal health directors, COVID-19 vaccinators, COVID-19 vaccine stakeholders, HERC coordinators, and key DHS staff.
Reflection
As of April 7, 2022, Wisconsin has administered more than 9.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 1.9 million additional or booster doses.
- 64.2% of all Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose.
- 60.8% of all Wisconsin residents have completed the vaccine series.
- 33.6% of all Wisconsin residents have received an additional/booster dose.
Thank you, Wisconsin vaccinators, for your continued hard work and dedication.
CDC Vaccine Task Force Issues Statement Regarding HRSA
As detailed in last week’s bulletin, due to the lack of supplemental funding from Congress, Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has stopped accepting claims for reimbursement of costs associated with administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured individuals as of 11:59 PM ET on April 5, 2022.
CDC Vaccine Task Force statement regarding the exhaustion of the funding
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly encourages providers to stay in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program and CDC expects participating providers will continue to administer these lifesaving vaccines at no cost to patients to ensure equitable access for all individuals. Where CDC becomes aware of a provider engaging in any of the following, CDC will consider taking any and all appropriate measures, including the possibility of rescinding the CDC provider agreement:
- Administering COVID-19 Vaccine at any out-of-pocket cost to the recipient
- Denying anyone vaccination, or differentially reducing appointment access, based on the vaccine recipient’s coverage status or network status
- Charging an office visit or other fee if COVID-19 vaccination is the sole medical service provided
- Requiring additional medical services to receive COVID-19 vaccination
- Seeking any reimbursement, including through balance billing, from the vaccine recipient
For further information please see the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and Support webpage.
Moderna Ancillary Kit Update
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shipments will soon include just one ancillary kit (one ancillary kit to one carton of vaccine, instead of two ancillary kits to one carton of vaccine). Vaccinators will begin to see this change later this month.
Reminder: Please Update Moderna Vaccine Expiration Dates
The Moderna vaccine is approved for use under an emergency use authorization (EUA) and does not have a final expiration date. The manufacturer has set up expiration dates that are far into the future to serve as placeholders. The vaccine has a dynamic expiration date, which can change over time as additional stability data become available. This placeholder date, which is far in the future, is intended to serve as a prompt for vaccinators to check the latest expiry information on the Moderna website.
To determine the expiration date, vaccinators should scan the QR code located on the packaging of the vial or carton or access the manufacturer’s website directly. Then, enter the lot number, and the expiration date will be displayed. CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Expiration Date Tracking Tool can also help providers keep track of the expiration date by lot number.
A reminder: please be sure to update WIR inventory when you accept the vaccine transfer in WIR.
Upcoming Holiday Ordering and Shipping Schedule
Pfizer vaccine deliveries will occur on Friday, April 15, 2022, and Monday, April 18, 2022, unless a request for an order hold with Pfizer customer service is submitted.
If you would like to request an order hold, please send a completed template to Pfizer Customer service at cvgovernment@pfizer.com by Tuesday, April 12 by 8:00 pm CST.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Vaccines
Moderna and Janssen vaccine deliveries will occur on Friday, April 15, 2022. If you would like to request an order hold for April 15, please email McKesson at COVIDVaccineSupport@McKesson.com
There will be no Moderna or Janssen vaccine deliveries on Monday, April 18, 2022.
Please reach out to McKesson Specialty Customer Service at 1-833-343-2703, or COVIDVaccineSupport@McKesson.com with any questions.
New and Updated Resources
Updated Clinical Guidance from CDC
Updated Communication and Education Resources from CDC
Updated Communication and Education Resources from DHS
In Case You Missed It
Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Program Webinar Schedule
Bi-weekly COVID-19 Vaccine Program updates are held every other Tuesday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. The next webinar will be held on Tuesday, April 19.
Register for the meeting series here. Watch recordings of past webinars here.
DHS Supports Second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for Adults 50 Years and Older and Certain Immunocompromised Individuals
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the option that adults ages 50 years and older receive a second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after having received their first booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
DHS also supports the option of a second booster dose for certain, immunocompromised people ages 12 years and older. This would include the option of a second booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 12 years and older or a second booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 18 years and older.
View the bulletin sent out on Thursday, March 31 here.
Following Vaccine Storage Requirements is Critical to Patient Safety
DHS is reminding vaccinators that COVID-19 vaccine vials need to be stored properly and that vaccinators must follow all manufacturer, DHS, and CDC storage requirements. Doing so is critical to ensure patient safety, full potency of the vaccine, and that individuals do not need to be revaccinated.
Vaccinators who do not follow storage requirements may be suspended from ordering and administering COVID-19 vaccine and will be asked to collaborate with DHS in communicating with individuals if revaccination is recommended. Please inform staff members in your organization who are responsible for managing vaccine storage and handling about this important information.
View the full bulletin sent on March 11 here.
DHS Hosting Shared Learning Forums on Advancing Health Equity
The DHS COVID-19 Response and Recovery Team is hosting Friday forums on advancing health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sessions are held on Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. and are open to anyone across Wisconsin. They will feature a community leader sharing experiences, barriers, practices and lessons learned for advancing health equity.
Our April forums will spotlight the work being done to advance health equity in marginalized populations. Attend all the sessions or choose the ones that work best for you:
- Friday, April 8, 12-1pm: Amish
- Friday, April 15, 12-1pm: Domestic Violence (DV) / Sexual Abuse (SA)
- Friday, April 22, 12-1pm: Unhoused/Homeless/Food Insecure
- Friday, April 29, 12-1pm: People in Our Care (PIOC)
For registration, please go to:
https://dhswi.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsd-6srj8tH9La8kaecC3ZowRQB8nsG-E
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Please email DHSCOVIDHealthEquity@dhs.wisconsin.gov with any questions.
DHS looks forward to engaging with our partners in local and tribal health departments, healthcare, pharmacies, community health centers, and tribal clinics as well as those in community-based organizations and hope you will join us.
Link to recordings of previous forums:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/9276578
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Updates and Immunization Site Training Sessions
Pfizer Vaccines US Medical Affairs, with its partner BioNTech, continues to host Medical Updates and Immunization Site Training Sessions for all providers on the storage, handling, and administration for currently available vaccine presentations of its COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition to Medical Updates, session topics will include:
- Use of vaccine for:
- Children 5 through 11 Years of Age
- Individuals 12 Years of Age and Older
- Storage, Handling, Preparation, & Administration for the multiple presentations of the vaccine
- Updates to CDC Interim Clinical Considerations
- Training on the new Pfizer Controlant Temperature Monitoring Device
- Recent medical updates regarding the vaccine
- An overview of healthcare provider resources
- Question and answer session
To access dates and links for upcoming training sessions, please visit:
https://www.pfizermedicalinformation.com/en-us/medical-updates
These sessions will be updated to reflect new information and changes as they evolve. Such updates will be identified at the start of each session and further explained during each presentation.
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