Maine Immunization Program Update June 2021

Maine Immunization Program Update

June 2021

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ordering

Maine COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering Process

Maine Immunization Program providers who have an approved COVID-19 agreement now have the ability to order COVID-19 vaccine through the Pandemic Vaccine Ordering tool in ImmPact. Providers will be able to order the following minimum and maximum quantities of COVID-19 vaccine:

orders

Providers must order at least the minimum amount listed above for both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, however, if providers would like to order less than 1170 doses of Pfizer, they may do so by submitting a request to: C19Allocations.MECDC@Maine.gov.

Please ensure that the following information is entered into ImmPact, prior to placing a vaccine order:

  • Verification of days and hours of operation that the staff at MIP-enrolled sites are available to receive vaccine.
  • Site’s delivery address.
  • Primary and backup point of contact information.
  • Up-to-date temperature logs for all units.
  • Doses administered are required to be entered in the client record within 24 hours of administration.
  • Reconciliation within the past fourteen days to include the following:
  • A physical count of all vaccines by brand, presentation, lot number, and expiration date.
  • Any expired, spoiled, or ruined/wasted vaccine doses.

Once orders are submitted through ImmPact, they will ship the following business day. Please allow five-days for shipping.


FDA Authorizes Longer Time for Refrigerator Storage of Thawed Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Prior to Dilution, Making Vaccine More Widely Available

  • Based on a review of recent data submitted by Pfizer Inc. on May 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is authorizing undiluted, thawed Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine vials to be stored in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (35°F to 46°F) for up to 1 month. Previously, thawed, undiluted vaccine vials could be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  
  • Pfizer Inc. submitted data to the FDA to demonstrate that undiluted, thawed vials of its COVID-19 vaccine are stable at refrigerator temperatures for up to 1 month.
  • The updated Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) is intended to help frontline workers understand the revised storage time. The Fact Sheet is available on the FDA’s web site. 
  • Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19

  ACIP: Vaccine Recommendation Updates 

The following materials have been updated to reflect the latest ACIP recommendation to include adolescents aged 12 to 15 years as eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

enrollment

Maine Vaccines for Children Program Provider Agreement 

The 2021 Maine Vaccines for Children Program Provider Agreement is now available in ImmPact for providers to complete. The Provider Agreement must be completed in ImmPact by Thursday, July 1, 2021.


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COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Application

Maine DHHS remains committed to making vaccination as accessible as possible. With as few as 10 confirmed patients, any community partner (school, employer, religious organization, community group, etc.) can organize a pop-up clinic to bring vaccination to their community.  To host a clinic, please complete the following application.  The Maine Immunization Program at the Maine CDC will connect all approved applicants with a medical provider.  The applicant or their designee will work with the assigned medical provider to finalize logistics.  DHHS can assist by providing guidance on clinic preparations.  For questions or more information about vaccination clinics, please contact VaccinePopupClinics.DHHS@maine.gov.


COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing

COVID-19 vaccines were previously recommended to be administered alone, with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after administration of any other vaccines. This was out of an abundance of caution and not due to any known safety or immunogenicity concerns.

COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered together without regard to timing. 

For more information, please visit the U.S. CDC's Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines


vsafe

Parents and guardians can now enroll adolescents in the v-safe after vaccination health checker

Parents and guardians can now enroll adolescents (aged 12 and older) in the v-safe after vaccination health checker℠ and complete health check-ins on their behalf after COVID-19 vaccination. V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after COVID-19 vaccination. Through v-safe, participants can quickly tell CDC if they have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. All adolescents in the family who are eligible to be vaccinated can be enrolled. Parents and guardians should use their smartphone to complete a separate v-safe registration for each adolescent. All v-safe communications will be sent to the parent or guardian’s smartphone.

CDC encourages parents and guardians to take advantage of the waiting period immediately after vaccination to enroll adolescents. Enrolling in v-safe is fast and easy to do. Parents will just need their smartphone and the vaccination record card their adolescent received during COVID-19 vaccination. V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker | CDC