COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Newsletter 03.26.2021

VDH has recently launched the Virginia Vaccine Management and Allocation Exchange (VaxMaX) to support providers with vaccine management and distribution, including capabilities for redistribution, data tracking, and reporting.

• Access to the system is limited to providers who have completed the COVID-19 enrollment process
• VaxMaX will serve as a single source for all dosage distribution and administration data as well as self-reported inventory of values from VaccineFinder
• Providers are expected to report redistributions and transfers in VaxMaX
• Future functionality includes the ability for individual providers to submit 1st and 2nd dose requests directly (early April launch) – further details to follow
  

  Note: submitting a request for doses will not guarantee that the requested number of doses will automatically be approved and shipped. Supply constraints are still expected to exist well into open pods.

Vaccine brands are assigned to clinics based on logistical needs, such as shipping quantities and storage temperatures, and not based on demographics or geography.

• A fact sheet comparing the different vaccines is available in English and Spanish for providers to share with their patients.

As a reminder, it’s important for sites to understand how to properly store, handle, and administer COVID-19 vaccines.

• Refer to the newly released Training Modules for Community COVID-19 Vaccinators for suggested training modules to prepare to provide safe and effective immunizations.

It is important that everyone is able to receive a vaccination when it is available. This means making sure nothing gets in the way of access. Vaccination sites should be evaluated for accessibility.

Access and functional needs (AFN) can include but is not limited to: limited mobility (e.g., use of a wheelchair, walker, or cane); blindness or low vision; difficulty hearing, communicating or understanding information; sensory sensitivities; limited English proficiency (LEP). It is important to:

1. Recognize that people with disabilities are diverse. Many disabilities are not visible or immediately clear.
2. Know that people with disabilities and health conditions may need assistance making an appointment and getting to the vaccination site. They may also need support during the onsite vaccination process.
3. Ask the person with a disability what they need, and work with them to find a reasonable accommodation. They will be most knowledgeable about accommodations that will provide them with effective access to information and services.

Visit the VDH Vaccination Site Access and Functional Needs Guidance for a comprehensive guide to making your clinic accessible, understanding how to communicate effectively with patients with a disability, and more. 

Check out our complete list of COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Best Practices here.

Upcoming Events

---

• Monday-Friday 4-5 pm: VDH Office Hours for Providers
• March 29: Merieux Foundation International Webinar on COVID-19 Vaccination Introduction & Acceptance
  • These webinars will bring together international experts to showcase examples of challenges and success stories reported in specific countries during the COVID-19 vaccine introduction, adoption and implementation and the related crisis management aspects. Participation is free but registration is required.
  • Register for Session 1 (8:00am - 10:30am (CET)/2am EST- 4:30 am EST)
  • Register for Session 2 (4:00pm - 6:30pm (CET)/10am-11:30am EST)
• March 31, 2-7pm: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)’s TechXpo: The Nation’s First National Convening on COVID-19, Public Health, and Technology
• March 31, 3-4pm: COVID-19 Vaccine for Homebound Older Adults: Challenges and Solutions
• April 6, 10:30am - 12pm: Bipartisan Policy Center/GTMRx Webinar: Building Vaccine Confidence During COVID-19: The Role of the Medical Neighborhood

• The HHS Prep Act Fact Sheet: Expanding the COVID-19 Vaccination Workforce provides additional information on which professions are qualified under recent expansions through the PREP Act.
• 10 Things Healthcare Providers Need to Know About the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
• Encourage the use of v-safe in your vaccine clinic. Share this quick video that explains how and why to use v-safe with staff and patients (see below for talking points)
  • V-safe is now available in 6 languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
  • Caregivers in long-term care facilities should also refer to this video for more specific guidance.
• How to Talk to Family and Friends about COVID-19 Vaccines (published 3/18/21)
• New CDC Webpages on COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness:

1. 1. Ensuring COVID-19 Vaccines Work | CDC
   2. COVID-19 Vaccines Work | CDC
   3. Why CDC Measures Vaccine Effectiveness | CDC
   4. How CDC Measures COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness | CDC

• Key Points for Healthcare Professionals: Encourage patients to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one is available to them, and to enroll in v-safe. Below is language you could use:
  • To recommend patients get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible: “I strongly recommend you get vaccinated. The vaccine will help keep you from getting COVID-19, and if you do get COVID-19 after you get vaccinated, it may help keep you from getting seriously ill. Getting vaccinated yourself may also help protect people around you.”
  • To encourage patients to enroll in v-safe: “I am encouraging everyone who receives a COVID-19 vaccine to enroll in v-safe. This is a smartphone tool you can use to tell CDC if you have any side effects after vaccination. If you report serious side effects, someone from CDC will call to follow up.”