Weekly Wrap Up

In this message:

1. 'Tis the Season for Respiratory Infections - Vaccinate for Healthy Holidays
2. New! COVID-19 Vaccine Infographic for Healthcare Providers
3. Real Stories of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
4. Novavax Ordering Turned Off
5. Updated COVID-19 Provider FAQs: USG PAP Program Extension
6. Updated COVID-19 and Influenza Treatments Locator
7. Register: Benefits of Using My Turn Clinic Webinar
8. Holiday Shipping Schedule
9. Upcoming CDPH Cancellations and Closures
10. Support Opportunities 

'Tis the Season for Respiratory Infections - Vaccinate for Healthy Holidays

With Influenza (flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity rising in California, continue vaccinating against respiratory diseases:

• Flu and COVID-19: everyone 6 months of age and older should get updated (2024 – 2025) flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
• RSV:
  • All infants 0 – 8 months
  • Young children 8 – 19 months at high risk of RSV disease
  • Pregnant persons from 32 – 36 weeks gestation
  • Adults 75+ or aged 60 – 74 at increased risk of severe disease

It’s especially important to vaccinate before holiday travel and gatherings! Visit CDC’s National Influenza Vaccination Week campaign webpage for print materials, social media, and patient reminder templates. Thank you for keeping patients healthy and well during this season!

For more resources, refer to this CDPH Communication.

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New! COVID-19 Vaccine Infographic for Healthcare Providers

COVID-19 vaccination rates among healthcare personnel remain very low.

Use this new infographic to promote the updated (2024 – 2025) COVID-19 vaccine for providers in your networks.

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Real Stories of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Allison describes her experience with flu during her mid 30s. Her illness worsened to the point that she was hospitalized and needed life-support. She suffered severe complications in her fight to survive, including loss of a limb. Watch Allison’s Story on shotbyshot.org.

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Novavax Ordering Turned Off

On Monday, November 16, 2024, Novavax ordering was turned off for CA BAP and VFC due to short expiry dates (December 31, 2024). Shelf-life extensions were not granted for lots expiring this month. Providers should continue to use vaccine on-hand right up until expiry and return expired doses per usual. Ordering will be turned back on once CDC has new inventory.

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Updated COVID-19 Provider FAQs: USG PAP Program Extension

For answers to provider’s COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics questions, see the COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutics FAQs, updated December 19, 2024.

It includes new information on the extension of the U.S. Government Patient Assistant Program operated by Pfizer (USG PAP), extending access to COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid throughout the respiratory winter season for Medicare patients.

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Updated COVID-19 and Influenza Treatment Locator

To aid patients and health care providers in quickly finding medications for COVID-19 or influenza this winter, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response has launched a COVID-19 and influenza prescription treatments locator for sites that have medications in stock to treat either COVID-19 or influenza and includes:

• Sites participating in the Paxlovid U.S. Government Patient Assistance Program operated by Pfizer; this program provides Paxlovid at no cost to eligible patients
• Federally associated sites, such as HRSA-supported health centers, Indian Health Service clinics, Veterans Affairs health centers, and Department of Defense clinics, that have free COVID-19 treatments from the remaining federal supply for patients who rely on these services
• Locations that have influenza treatments in stock
• Locations where patients can find testing, health care services, and treatment in one location
• Locations that offer prescribing services (including telehealth)
• Locations that offer home delivery

Some locations that have these products and services may not be on the locator. We appreciate your help in getting information about the locator to your stakeholders, partners, providers, dispensing sites, and patients, and we have a Digital Toolkit available for this use.

Please reach out to  ASPR Ready with any questions or feedback on the locator.

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Register: Benefits of Using My Turn Clinic Webinar

My Turn Clinic is a platform designed to streamline vaccine administration and clinic management. It allows California immunization providers to manage patient eligibility, scheduling, dose administration, reporting, and AB 1797 compliance, all in one place!

Join CDPH and My Turn for an informational webinar:

• Benefits of My Turn Clinic Webinar
• January 14, 2025, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (PT)
• Register here

Please see our new What is My Turn Clinic flyer for details and additional information.

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Holiday Shipping Schedule

There will be limited shipping the last two weeks of December (December 23 through December 31) for orders processed prior to December 12, 2024. Any orders processed after this date may not be shipped prior to January, 2025. 

For details on vaccine delivery blackout dates (shipment holds) please refer to our Routine Vaccine Distribution Holiday Calendar for details.

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Upcoming CDPH Cancellations and Closures

• The CDPH Immunization Updates for LHDs webinar on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, has been cancelled in observance of the holiday week. The LHDs webinar series will resume on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
  
  
• The CDPH Immunization Updates for Providers webinar on Friday, December 27, 2024, has been cancelled in observance of the holiday week. The webinar series will resume on Friday, January 10, 2025. If you have not done so already, please register for future sessions here.
  
  
• The Provider Call Center will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, and on January 1, 2025.
  
  
• There will be no Weekly Wrap Up next Friday, December 27, 2024. The next Weekly Wrap Up will be sent on Friday, January 3, 2025. 

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Contact CDPH Immunization Branch

Immunization Provider Call Center 

For program information: Email providercallcenter@cdph.ca.gov or call (833) 502-1245 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, PT). 

myCAvax Help Desk 

For technical issues (e.g., password resets): Email myCAvax.HD@cdph.ca.gov or call (833) 502-1245, (Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, PT). 

System-related training materials are available via the Knowledge Center in myCAvax. 

My Turn Help Desk 

Onboarding: email myturnonboarding@cdph.ca.gov

Technical support for My Turn Clinic: email MyTurn.Clinic.HD@cdph.ca.gov or call (833) 502-1245 (Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, PT). 

Job aids, Demos, and Training Opportunities 

Vaccines for Children (VFC) Customer Service Center

For program information: Email MyVFCvaccines@cdph.ca.gov or call (877) 243-8832 (Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm, PT; Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, PT).

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