 Vaxelis & MenQuadfi
The Maine Vaccine Board on June 7, 2021, voted to supply Vaxelis (DTaP-IPV-HIB-HepB) and MenQuadfi (meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT) to providers.
We will provide information about these new vaccines, including when they will be available to order in this newsletter in upcoming weeks.
Summary of Vaxelis and MenQuadfi:
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Vaxelis is a combination of DTaP, IPV, Hib, Hep B vaccines and is licensed for children age 6 weeks through 4 years (before the 5th birthday). It is indicated as a 3-dose series for infants at ages 2, 4, and 6 months. Vaxelis may be used for children younger than age 5 years who are on a catch-up primary series. It is NOT approved as the booster dose of DTaP (dose 4 or dose 5) or Hib (dose 4). However, if Vaxelis is inadvertently given as a booster dose, it may count as valid and does not need to be repeated.
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MenQuadfi is a new MenACWY conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT) approved in the US in April 2020 and is licensed for persons aged 2 years and older.
- MenQuadfi, Menactra, or Menveo can be used for adolescents who are routinely recommended to receive MenACWY vaccine at 11 or 12 years of age.
- MenQuadfi can be used for anyone who is at higher risk for meningococcal disease at 2 years and older, or you can use Menactra (9 months-55 years), or Menveo (2 months-55 years).
Please keep in mind that these new vaccines will be offered in addition to the vaccines that we currently supply through our program and are not intended to replace any existing products.
Resources:
Immunization Schedule with Combination Vaccines (includes Vaxelis, from the California Department of Public Health EZIZ)
Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine Recommendations by Age and Risk Factor (Immunization Action Coalition)
Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization (Immunization Action Coalition)
MIP is pleased to host an educational lunch and learn on July 30, 2021 at 12:00 PM to include presentations on the following new vaccine products available to order:
- Vaxelis (DTaP, IPV, HepB, Hib)
- MenQuadfi (MenACWY)
MIP staff will be joined by the manufacturers of both vaccine products along with Dr. Amy Belisle, Maine’s Chief Child Health Officer, and Dr. Lawrence Losey, Pediatrician with Mid Coast Pediatrics.
The education will cover immunogenicity, safety, dosing, administration, and storage & handling.
We encourage you to join us for this informative presentation.
Meeting information:
Date: Friday July 30, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 923 7085 5904
Passcode: vaccine
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The deadline for updating your VFC Provider Agreement was Thursday, July 1. If you have not submitted an updated VFC Provider Agreement you will not be approved to order vaccine. Please review our requirements here to ensure you are meeting all requirements.
All students will need to be in compliance with immunization requirements when school starts in the fall. Please work with parents to schedule well-child and vaccination appointments as soon as possible to help ensure children are up-to-date on their immunizations and prepared for the upcoming school year.
Right now, children age 12 and up are also eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, but we expect younger children may be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine as early as this fall. COVID-19 vaccine can now be given at the same time as any other vaccines—there is no longer a need to wait 2 weeks between COVID-19 vaccines and other routine childhood vaccines.
Resources:
Equipment failures, power outages, natural disasters—these and other emergency situations can compromise vaccine storage conditions and damage your vaccine supply. It is critical to have an up-to-date emergency plan with steps you should take to protect your vaccine. In any emergency event, activate your emergency plan immediately.
You should always have the following equipment/materials on hand and easily accessible, should you need to transport your vaccines to your secondary location:
- Hard-sided coolers or Styrofoam™ vaccine shipping containers.
- Frozen water bottles - use 16.9 oz. bottles for medium/large coolers or 8 oz. bottles for small coolers (enough for 2 layers inside cooler). DO NOT USE COLD PACKS.
- Bubble wrap, packing foam, or
Styrofoam™ for a layer above and below the vaccines, at least 1 in thick.
- Temperature monitoring device - Digital data logger to ensure the vaccine cold chain is never broken.
Please refer to the U.S. CDC's Packing Vaccines for Transport during Emergencies for step-by-step instructions.
All enrolled VFC Provider MUST have a "Routine and Emergency Vaccine Storage and Handling Plan" posted on or near any refrigerator or freezer used to store MIP-supplied
vaccine. The plan must be reviewed and updated annually or more frequently if there are any changes to the plan, changes in equipment used to store MIP-supplied vaccine, or changes to staff responsible for vaccine management storage and handling.
If you are experiencing an emergency and you need assistance, please call our Educator Line -for help: 207-287-9972.
There have been an increase in COVID-19 vaccine administration errors recently, so we would like to highlight an important resource with recommendations on what to do in the event that an administration error is made:
For any questions regarding administration errors, please call our Educator Line for assistance: 207-287-9972. |
