We Are Hiring!
Do you have a passion for public health assisting Maine’s population in vaccine education programs?
Our Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) is hiring for (2) Vaccine Educators.These positions will be responsible for ensuring that enrolled providers meet minimum Vaccines for Children program standards for eligibility screening, storage and handling, staff training, establish partnerships, and outreach and education activities in the community.
For further information on qualifications, skills, and experience and to apply, please visit the MCD Global Health website.
VFC Annual Educational Training
The Maine Immunization Program requires that all VFC enrolled providers complete the Vaccines For Children Training below on an annual basis. This is required for both the primary and secondary vaccine coordinators.
Any NEW vaccine coordinators MUST also complete the Vaccines for Children Training.
In order to fulfill the requirement, you must complete the training here. Once you have finished viewing the training, please complete the post training quiz.
A new training is available each year on July 1, and providers are required to complete it by October 1. If you have not completed this training, it will affect your site's ability to order vaccines within ImmPact.
School Immunization Requirements:
Proof of Immunity
As we settle into a new school year, we want to remind school nurses and provider offices about the school immunization rules and what is acceptable and what is not in regards to immunization titers.
The law states "in the absence of a certificate of immunization" not "in lieu of a certificate of immunization". Titers should only be used for individuals who cannot locate their immunization records.
SECTION 4. CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATION; EVIDENCE OF IMMUNITY
A. Certificate of Immunization
To demonstrate adequate immunization against each disease, a child must present the school with a certificate of immunization from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant or public
health official who has administered the immunizing agent(s) to the child. The certificate must specify the immunizing agent, the dosage administered and the date(s) on which it was
administered.
B. Proof of Immunity
In the absence of a certificate of immunization, the child must present the school with laboratory
evidence demonstrating immunity or reliable documented history of immunity provided by a
physician or other primary care provider.
Hope for Henry
 Hope for Henry collaborates with doctors, nurses, child life specialists, and psychosocial team members to complement and enhance medical treatment.
Their programs are customized for infancy through adolescence, to help make the vaccination process a better experience for kids.
 To learn more about the program, please see the overview here. For more information, please reach out to:info@hopeforhenry.org |
ATTENTION Adult 317 Vaccine Providers - ACTION NEEDED!
Any provider site interested in ordering 317 adult vaccine between October 2022 and March 2023, MUST complete a PRE-BOOK SURVEY NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7.
What does my site need to do?
All providers interested in ordering 317 vaccine, MUST have patients who are:
- 19 years or older and either:
- Uninsured OR
- Underinsured
In addition, providers will also need to complete the following:
-
PRE-BOOK their adult vaccinations by completing this quick 2 minute survey. Please complete no later than Friday, October 7.
- Complete the VACCINE NEED in ImmPact for your adult population.
Why is pre-booking required?
We are awarded 317 funds at the beginning of the federal fiscal year in the month of October. 317 funds are not only used for the uninsured/underinsured adult populations; they are also used for outbreak response as well. Pre-booking will allow MIP to adequately budget funds and ensure that they are distributed equitably.
How often will I need to complete a pre-book?
MIP will require that providers interested in supplying 317 adult vaccine complete a pre-booking survey every 6 months.
What if I miss the pre-book deadline?
We will still consider additional requests throughout the year, but they will be contingent on available 317 funds and will be on a case-by-case basis.The only way to guarantee you will have access to 317 adult vaccine is to complete this pre-book by Friday, October 7.
Am I guaranteed to receive the amount of vaccine that I pre-book?
No. This is simply a way for us to estimate your vaccine usage over the next 6 months, so we can budget our funds appropriately. It also gives us the information we need to justify requesting additional 317 funds from the Federal CDC.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at (207) 287-3746 or email us at: MEAdultVaccine@maine.gov.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Immunization Record Interpretation
If you have received an immunization record in a different language, we suggest the “Pink Book”, CDC’s “Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Course Textbook” (13th Edition – 2015). Appendix B – Vaccines” contains the “Quick Chart of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Terms in Multiple Languages,” produced by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC). This resource displays each vaccine in English as well as in multiple eastern and western European languages.
Once you have any immunization record offered, ask the client, parent or interpreter whether they:
- Have any additional records or documents that may contain immunization history.
- Received any immunizations that may not have been recorded on the documents provided. However, remember that according to CDC recommendations, only written or electronic documentation from an official source should be accepted as valid.
- Checked the state’s or county’s registry for any immunization history for the client.
Using the quick chart resource above, you should be able to go line by line to identify each vaccine.
If you are unsure, please contact MIP to speak with a health educator. |
