IMMUNIZER INFORMATION Update

Immunizer Information

• Form to apply for your certification with the State as an Immunizer after you have taken the immunizer training, CPR & bloodbourne pathogens courses - you MUST SUBMIT PROOF of completing all requirements
• Office of the Professions Administration of Immunizations page
• NYS DOH Immunization Page
• NYS DOH Immunization Toolkit for Providers - lots of info including vaccine administration, documentation, educational materials and more!!

9/24/2010: Mandatory Reporting Requirements!!

7/2010: NYS DOH Reminds Immunizers of the Mandatory Reporting Requirements

3/10/2010: NYS DOH Needs Your Assistance in order to continue providing H1N1 disposal services at no cost. Click here for more info.

02/18/10: Executive Order 29.4 regarding the administration of H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines was extended through March 20th. At that point, there will be discussions as to how much of the order might or might not need to be extended.

01/15/2010 Vaccine Provider Letter - the purpose of this letter is to: Request that you continue to vaccinate patients for H1N1 influenza and retain your current stocks of vaccine in case there is a disease resurgence; Remind you about the need for a second dose of H1N1 vaccine for children less than 10 years of age; and Remind you to report all vaccine doses administered or wasted.

DOH Letter regarding administration of mercury containing vaccines to pregnant women who consent - extends until May 1, 2010

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New 12/21/09: H1N1 Standing Orders!

Standing Orders for H1N1 for Individual Pharmacists/Pharmacies
Standing Orders for H1N1 for Corporate Entities

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REVISED 10/28/09: Detailed H1N1 Ordering Information

Please see this document containing REVISED detailed information on ordering H1N1 vaccine and tracking doses administered and inventory. Please read the document in its entirety before attempting to order H1N1 vaccine.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ALREADY PLACED AN ORDER LAST WEEK, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ORDER VACCINE AGAIN THIS COMING WEEK.

The most significant change in the document refers to the process of handling unfilled orders. Last week, the New York State Department of Health received orders for TEN TIMES more than the number of doses of vaccine currently available to ship, due to delays in vaccine delivery on the national level. Allocation of the limited supply of vaccine for the first ordering week is not yet complete and providers will be notified of their order status. Those who receive vaccine are likely to only receive a partial order and it may take several weeks before vaccine supplies are sufficient to complete all orders.

As a result, we will be placing orders from last week (or in the future) that are not fulfilled in BACKORDER status (rather than outright canceling as previously indicated). For example, if a vaccine provider has ordered 500 doses of vaccine and only receives 200 based upon the amount currently available to NYSDOH, the remainder of the order will be saved and will be filled when vaccine supply improves.

AGAIN, IF YOU ALREADY PLACED AN ORDER LAST WEEK, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ORDER VACCINE AGAIN THIS COMING WEEK.

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New 10/14/09: Medicaid to Reimburse for Certain Vaccines Administered by Certified Pharmacists

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New 9/15/09:
Letter to Immunizers Regarding H1N1 Vaccine

Click Here for upcoming course dates & locations.

NEW 9/2/09: New Immunizer Standing Order Documents from the:
Bureau of Immunization
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower 649
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Phone: 518-473-4437
Fax: Fax: 518-474-1495

Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Adults
Click Here for the Microsoft Word Version
Click Here for and Adobe Acrobat Version

Medical Management of Vaccine Reactions in Adult Patients
Click Here for the Microsoft Word Version
Click Here for and Adobe Acrobat Version

Standing Orders for Administering Pneumococcal Vaccine to Adults
Click Here for the Microsoft Word Version
Click Here for and Adobe Acrobat Version

New: 8/12/09:
Click here for an August 7, 2009 NYS Department of Health letter to County Health Commissioner/Public Health Directors addressing standing orders for pharmacists as immunizers.

ALREADY TAKEN THE CERTIFICATE COURSE TO IMMUNIZE? Make sure you are registered with the Board of Pharmacy as well. Go here: http://www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm and in the 'Profession' search click on pharmacist and enter your last name. When your name appears on the next page click it and under the Additional Qualification this will appear if you are registered with the BOP to administer immunizations: I - Immunization Privilege. Please contact Barb at the PSSNY Office if you have any questions: barbt(at)pssny.org or 800-632-8822.

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A new law and regulations that will permit licensed pharmacists who obtain an additional certification to administer influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations to adults 18 years of age* and older will take effect on December 5, 2008.

• Medicare B Immunization Billing Reference Sheet
  
• Medicare Billing Quick Reference: Page 2 has Immunization Info
• Pharmacists wishing to administer immunizing agents must obtain a separate certification. The form for applying for this certification is available here (PDF). In addition to the course you will need to demonstrate proof of CPR/BLS.
  
• Pharmacists need to find the Medical Director for the County Health Department toobtain a "non-patient specific standing order" for Flu shots and Epi shots (if necessary). The link is: www.nysacho.org/Directory/directory.html.
• NYS Immunization Regs & Protocol Including Collaborative Prescribing Protocol Template - Microsoft Word Format
• NYS Immunization Regs & Protocol Including Collaborative Prescribing Protocol Template - Adobe Acrobat Format
• CDC Guidelines for Large Scale Influenza Vaccination Clinic
• Form CMS 855i to register as a Mass Immunizer (Medicare Enrollment Application - Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners)

*IF YOU IMMUNIZE SOMEONE UNDER THE AGE OF 19 You MUST register with the NYS Immunization Information System Registry!!!

Links:

• NYS Office of the Professions Page on Immunizing
• Immunization Action Coalition - IAC - VALUABLE RESOURCE!!!!
• Sample Standing Orders - from the IAC
• NYSDOH Immunization Program materials order form:
  www.nyhealth.gov/prevention/immunization/publications.htm
• APhA's Immunizer Information Page
• APhA's PRACTICE INFORMATION for Immunizers - Lots of information!!
• Medicare Adult Immunization Page
• CDC's National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases

Vaccine Information Statements MUST be given out at the time of each vaccine:

• CDC Vaccine Information Statements main page: cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm
• IAC's Vaccine Information Statements in foreign languages: www.immunize.org/vis/vis_anthrax.asp

Detailed regulations outlining the process by which pharmacists may participate and make legally required reports are available at the following links:

Part 63, Commissioner's Regulations
NYS Immunization Information System

Please watch for more related information on this important new public protection initiative as it becomes available.