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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now authorized 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 one month. Previously, thawed, undiluted vaccine vials could be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. For more information on this authorization, you can read the FDA In Brief that was published on May 19, 2021.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Co-Administration Interim Guidance
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On May 14, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released interim guidance on the co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccinations. COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines on the same day, as well as co-administration within 14 days. For more information regarding CDC’s new guidance, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html.
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COVID-19 VaST Work Group Technical Report
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group held a session on May 17, 2021, which included several presentations on myocarditis following mRNA vaccines, from the Department of Defense, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), and Vaccine Safety Datalink. There were also brief updates from the Veteran’s Administration and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment groups about their plans for future investigation of myocarditis. For more information about the latest VaST report, please click here.
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Opportunities to Vaccinate Every Eligible Person
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The CDC Vaccine Task Force, Distribution and Pharmacy has prepared a document to provide information on identifying, handling, disposing of, and reporting waste in COVID-19 vaccination programs. This document also includes updated vaccine wastage best practices to ensure providers do not miss an opportunity to vaccinate every eligible person. To read the document that was updated on May 18, 2021, please click here.
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Health Care Providers Reporting Adverse Vaccine Events
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Health care providers who diagnose patients with any adverse reactions to any COVID-19 vaccine should report to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national program managed by the CDC and the FDA to monitor the safety of all vaccines licensed in the U.S. For more information on VAERS, please click here.
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Florida COVID-19 Vaccine Weekly Pre-Book Request
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COVID-19 vaccine enrolled providers may request vaccine in their weekly COVID-19 pre-book request in Florida SHOTS. Please remember to submit your pre-book requests each week by noon every Wednesday, Eastern Time. Requests do not guarantee an allocation will be made and requests will not carry over to the following week. COVID-19 vaccine enrolled providers are also now responsible for requesting second doses, as they will not be automatically sent as they have been previously.
For more information contact the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program at FloridaVFC@flhealth.gov or via phone at 1-877-888-7468, then press Option 1. General VFC Program information and forms can be found on our website at http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/vaccines-for-children/index.html.
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