Info as of 6/2/2010
The United States Federal Government is implementing the Central Vaccine Recovery Program for pick-up of unused and expired 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine directly from providers with an H1N1 Provider Agreement, as well as local health departments. The program is voluntary.
Health care providers in Virginia who received 2009 H1N1 vaccine and have a Provider Agreement should expect to receive two (2) pre-paid shipping labels from UPS sometime after June 10, 2010. Registered providers will automatically receive the labels in the mail. Providers can use the pre-paid labels to ship up to 20 pounds (lbs) per label of unused H1N1 vaccine. The program is designed to recover unopened vials, pre-filled syringes and nasal sprayers. Ancillary supplies, empty vials, broken vials and syringes with needles should not be returned.
Providers participating in the program should return already-expired H1N1 vaccine as well as vaccine that will expire by the end of June 2010 manufactured by Novartis, CSL and MedImmune. Providers are encouraged to continue to use and maintain their supply of sanofi pasteur multi-dose vials expiring in 2011 until further guidance. Maintenance of the long-dated vaccine will serve as a reserve in the event there is a resurgence of the disease before the 2010-11 vaccine is available. Later in fall 2010, providers will receive a third UPS pre-paid label for returning the long-dated product.
While providers supply the box for shipping, the government will be paying the shipping and disposal costs. While the program is voluntary, all registered H1N1 providers with a Provider Agreement that received vaccine will receive labels whether they choose to participate or not. There is no penalty and unused labels can be discarded.
If one Provider Agreement covered several locations, the vaccine will need to be consolidated across locations. Providers may incur costs if the vaccine is consolidated prior to returning it to the recovery program.
Providers with more than 20 pounds (lbs) of vaccine to return per label or with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ID number for waste will not be able to use the shipping labels but will be able to contact the federal contractor to make other arrangements.
Please read the following four documents for detailed information:
Letters explaining the program:
Specific guidance on shipping:
Additional instructions will be provided in the letter accompanying the labels.
The recovery program is voluntary. If providers choose not to use the shipping labels, they must dispose of the vaccine in approved medical waste receptacles and complete a vaccine return form to document the wastage. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY H1N1 VACCINE TO MCKESSON, GIV OR THE MANUFACTURERS.
Vaccine Wastage Form
Use the form below to document unreported, past H1N1 vaccine that was already disposed of OR to report newly-expired vaccine that will not be recovered through the Central Vaccine Recovery Program. An H1N1 Wastage Form does not have to be submitted if you plan to participate in the recovery program.
Vaccine Returns and VIIS
Private providers using the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) may wish to account for the change in their inventory due to vaccine returns. VIIS will automatically take expired vaccine out of a site’s inventory. For VIIS accounting of spoiled or otherwise wasted, unused vaccine, please see the following guidance:
For Questions or Concerns Contact the Division of Immunization at 804-864-8055.