VFC Spring Update
Annual re-enrollment
Vaccines for Children (VFC) Annual Re-Enrollment will be opening on May 1, 2023 and will run through May 26, 2023. In preparation, we recommend that you start gathering your information such as your primary coordinator, backup coordinator, medical director and any new providers that have joined your practice. You will receive another announcement with additional details as we get closer to the re-enrollment period. In the meantime, please mark your calendars with these dates. This is only for the Vaccine for Children (VFC) program, this is not COVID-19 provider re-enrollment.
VFC compliance visits
Immunization Program staff are continuing to schedule in-person VFC compliance visits and continuing to perform unannounced storage and handling visits. When you are contacted by your site monitor or regional advisor to schedule these visits, please work with them to get these scheduled in a timely manner. If Immunization Program staff arrive at your site to do an unannounced visit, you must allow them to complete this visit. It cannot be rescheduled for a later time.
Additionally, Immunization Program staff are scheduling quality improvement visits with VFC providers. If a staff member reaches out to schedule an immunization quality for improvement for Provider (IQIP) visit, please work with the staff to schedule a time to meet.
Staffing update
Brianna Murnan has joined the VFC Program as a site monitor in the Southern Regional Office and will begin conducting site visits and unannounced visits in the next couple of months. Brianna had previously worked with the COVID-19 team conducting site visits. Brianna can be reached at brianna.murnan@wi.gov.
Non-compliance findings
Below are the top non-compliance issues that were found during the 284 VFC Compliance visits that were conducted over the past 15 months:
- Vaccine management plan (not reviewed in the past 12 months): 108
- Non-reporting of changes of key staff to Immunization Program: 86
- Outdated Certificate of Calibration of Data Loggers: 52
- Not screening for VFC eligibility: 48
- Over-borrowing of VFC vaccine for non-VFC eligible children: 39
- Vaccine dose documentation (non-documentation of dose level) 36
Please check on these items in your clinic to ensure you follow the VFC program requirements.
Keeping WIR updated
It is important when your primary and/or backup coordinator changes you update that information in WIR as well as complete the change of information form and submit it. If you need assistance updating the information in WIR, please contact the WIR helpdesk at 608-266-9691 or email at DHSWIRHELP@WI.GOV.
Vaccine returns
When returning state supplied vaccine to McKesson, only the vaccine that is on the vaccine return form should be returned. Over the past six months there were over 120 additional vaccines returned to McKesson that were "not approved” which causes additional work for both McKesson and the Immunization Program. A separate return has to be created for these extra doses that are added after your Return Authorization has been approved. We understand that it is easy to just throw in one or two more doses or vials but please either save them for the next return or contact us and let us know you need to revise your return.
Please remember that influenza vaccine cannot be returned until it expires. We have been seeing many providers trying to return influenza vaccine now because they "are done" vaccinating. Influenza vaccine can be given until it expires which in most cases is June 30.
Presentation change
GSK's (GlaxoSmithKlein) Rotarix vaccine has been replaced with a new presentation of Rotarix which does not require reconstitution or dilution before use. The NDC for the new product is 58160-0740-21, which is currently shipping to VFC providers. Please make sure all staff who administer vaccines are aware of this change. Please note that the new product is a 1.5ml dose compared to the 1ml dose of the old presentation.
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