myCAvax System Outage: Planned Maintenance 

Due to planned maintenance, myCAvax will be unavailable on Saturday, October 15, 2022, between 9:00-9:15AM PST. During this time, the following error message will appear: "This instance will not be available during this maintenance window."

Pediatric Bivalent Booster Vaccine Ordering & Shipping

On October 12, 2022, the FDA, CDC, and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup authorized and recommended bivalent booster doses for all individuals ages 5 years and older. For eligibility and timing guidance, please review yesterday's communication and the updated COVID-19 Vaccine Timing Guide.

Pfizer Pediatric Bivalent Booster Vaccines

Initial pre-orders of Pfizer pediatric bivalent booster vaccines are shipping now. Any orders placed after the pre-order deadline will ship after pre-order shipments have been completed. CDPH expects to receive additional Pfizer pediatric bivalent booster vaccine allocations on Thursday, October 20.  

Moderna Pediatric Bivalent Booster Vaccines

The age indication for Moderna in myCAvax has been updated to reflect ages 6 years and older. 

Preventing Vaccine Administration Errors

Providers should stop administering monovalent vaccines as booster doses. Giving a dose of monovalent vaccine as a booster is considered to be an administration error.

Please note: Both the Pfizer pediatric (5 years-11 years) bivalent booster vaccine and Pfizer pediatric (5 years-11 years) monovalent vaccine have orange caps. Please carefully check vial labels to ensure that the intended product is administered. 

Additional Resources:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Product Guide
• Provider Operations Manual: Vaccine Administration Errors
• Vaccine Administration Checklist

Pediatric Bivalent Booster Vaccine Fact Sheets

COVID-19 Provider Operations Manual (POM)

The COVID-19 Provider Operations Manual (POM) has been updated to include the new Pfizer  (5-11 years) Bivalent Booster Vaccine Fact Sheet and the updated Moderna (6 years+) Bivalent Booster Vaccine Fact Sheet.

The Pfizer (5-11 years) Bivalent Booster Vaccine Fact Sheet includes:

• Authorization
• Shipments
• Storage and handling
• Administration

NEW! CDC released updated resources, now one for all products: 

• Preparation & Administration Summary
• Storage/Handling Summary
• Storage/BUD tracking labels
• Soon to be updated for bivalent additions

The Moderna (6 years+) Bivalent Booster Vaccine Fact Sheet includes:

• Authorization
• Ordering
• Ancillary Kits
• Dosing volume
• Wastage reporting
• Moderna DHCP Letter Bivalent
• New Preparation & Administration Summary (one for all products)
• New Storage/BUD Tracking Labels (one for all products)

NEW: Pediatric COVID-19 Checklist

This summer, the Immunization Branch interviewed 16 high-performing California Vaccines for Children (VFC) clinics who shared tips and strategies in supporting high COVID-19 vaccination coverage among their patient population.  These best practices have been compiled into a 1-page Pediatric COVID-19 Checklist with simple and effective strategies that you can consider using in your clinic. Share it with your clinical team, and set a few minutes aside to discuss what strategies you will implement today! 

Upcoming Webinar: Talking with Patients about Long COVID