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 27, 2022, Wisconsin has administered more than 9.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 2 million additional or booster doses.
- 64.3% of all Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose.
- 61.0% of all Wisconsin residents have completed the vaccine series.
- 34.0% of all Wisconsin residents have received an additional/booster dose.
Thank you, Wisconsin vaccinators, for your continued hard work and dedication.
Pfizer Purple Cap Expiration
A reminder that carton and vials of Pfizer Purple Cap COVID-19 vaccine with an expiry date of September 2021 through February 2022 printed on the label may remain in use for 3 months beyond the printed date as long as approved storage conditions between -90ºC to -60ºC (-130ºF to -76ºF) have been maintained. It is important for vaccinators to note that all the Pfizer Purple Cap vaccine did not expire at the end of March, and they should continue to use it before ordering any Pfizer Gray Cap vaccine
Updated expiry dates are shown below.
 If not stored between -90ºC to -60ºC (-130ºF to -76ºF), vials may be stored at -25°C to -15°C (-13°F to 5°F) for up to 2 weeks. Vials must be kept frozen and protected from light until ready to use. Vials stored at -25°C to -15°C (-13°F to 5°F) for up to 2 weeks may be returned one time to the recommended storage condition of -90ºC to -60ºC (-130ºF to -76ºF). Total cumulative time the vials are stored at -25°C to -15°C (-13°F to 5°F) should be tracked and should not exceed 2 weeks.
If an ultra-low temperature freezer is not available, the thermal container in which the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrives may be used as temporary storage when consistently re-filled to the top of the container with dry ice. Refer to the re-icing guidelines packed in the original thermal container for instructions regarding the use of the thermal container for temporary storage. The thermal container maintains a temperature range of -90ºC to -60ºC (-130ºF to -76ºF). Storage of the vials between -96°C to -60°C (-141°F to -76°F) is not considered an excursion from the recommended storage condition.
Additional information on Pfizer storage and handling may be found at Administration Overview for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Pfizer Purple Cap vaccine expiry dates are shown at Expiry Information for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines.
New and Updated Resources
Updated Clinical Guidance from CDC
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MMWR: Seroprevalence of Infection-Induced SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies – United States, September 2021-February 2022
Updated Communication and Education Resources from CDC
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, May 3.
Register for the meeting series here. Watch recordings of past webinars here.
Pfizer Shelf-Life Extension
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an amendment to the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer Tris COVID-19 vaccine, extending the shelf-life of the following Pfizer product formulations from 9 to 12 months:
- Pfizer Tris Pediatric vaccine (Orange Cap for ages 5 through 11, with diluent)
- Pfizer Adult Tris (Gray Cap for ages 12+, no diluent)
Vials stored consistently in an ultra-low temperature freezer at -90oC to -60oC (-130oF to -76oF) may remain in use for up to 12 months beyond the date of manufacture printed on the vials and cartons. Vials stored in refrigerated vials (2oC to 8oC) are not eligible for extension, regardless of the expiration date. Additional information on Pfizer storage and handling may be found at Administration Overview for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
Pfizer Orange and Gray Cap Tris Vaccine expiry dates based on 12 months from the date of the manufacture are shown at Expiry Information for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines.
No changes have been made to the vaccine itself to enable extension of expiry dating. This change is based on stability data submitted by the manufacturer to the FDA.
Reminders:
- Do not use Pfizer Tris products beyond 12 months from manufacture date.
- Expiration dates for the Pfizer TRIS products are not printed on the vaccine cartons or vials.
- Do not store Pfizer vials at -25°C to -15°C (-13°F to 5°F). Once vials are thawed, they should not be refrozen.
For more information, please review the updated FDA Factsheets:
COVID-19 vaccines authorized under an EUA do not have fixed expiration dates, and expiration dates may be extended as more stability data is collected. Always check Expiry Information for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines to obtain the most up-to-date expiration dates for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines you have in inventory.
Best Practices for Inventory Management
In order to minimize the number of unused expired doses and manage expired doses correctly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) encourage vaccinators to:
- Monitor expiration dates weekly, rotate stock as needed, and follow a “first in, first out” strategy to manage inventory.
- If nearing expiration, check posted manufacturer information for the most up to date expiration/extension information for vaccine lots.
- Based on the latest expiration information, remove expired vaccine from the storage unit immediately. Do not give staff opportunity to administer expired vaccine.
- If expired vaccine is inadvertently administered, it is considered a vaccine administration error and requires remediation including a VAERS report, contacting the recipient to inform them of the error, and may or may not require revaccination based on the manufacturers’ guidance. Guidance on vaccine administration errors can be found in Appendix A of the Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States.
- Vaccine disposal: dispose of the vaccine vial (with any remaining vaccine) and packaging as medical waste according to local and state regulations.
- The COVID-19 Vaccine Lot Number report, available via CDC’s Vaccine Code Set Management Service, can help identify expired inventory.
- If you have not yet registered for the report, visit CDC’s Vaccine Lot Number and Expiration Date webpage and click the “Register” button in the upper right corner to complete the registration form to request access.
Please continue to leverage the Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Exchange to ensure your excess COVID-19 vaccine is available to vaccination sites with a need. If you have COVID-19 vaccine that has expired per the expiration date on the vial, or has been wasted, please fill out the Wastage Form and email it to DHSCOVIDVACCINATOR@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line WASTAGE.
CDC provides guidance on the proper storage and handling of vaccine and tools for monitoring temperatures during transport and redistribution for each available vaccine.
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 May forums 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 29, 12-1pm: People in Our Care (PIOC)
- Friday, May 6, 12-1pm: Muslims
- Friday, May 13, 12-1pm: Persons with Disabilities
- Friday, May 20, 12-1pm: Rural Communities
- Friday, May 27, 12-1pm: South East Asian
For registration, please go to:
https://dhswi.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsd-6srj8tH9La8kaecC3ZowRQB8nsG-E
If you have previously registered in April, you do not need to register again. To view recordings of previous forums, please go to:
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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