Covid Vaccine Updates from the VA Department of Health February 26, 2021

BURKE FAMILY PRACTICE DOES NOT HAVE ANY OF THE COVID VACCINES, NOR DO WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING THEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE – IF YOU CAN GET YOUR VACCINE ELSEWHERE, PLEASE DO SO. THE VA DEPT OF HEALTH HAS ISSUED THIS LATEST UPDATE:

Based on our population, Virginia will begin receiving approximately 161,000 doses of vaccine per week from the federal government, an increase of 25% over the current weekly allocation of approximately 129,000, and 53% more than Virginia’s initial weekly allocation of 105,000 doses. While these increases are significant, there are still not enough doses available for everyone who is eligible to receive them. Virginia expects to meet the demand for Phase 1b in March or April. Pre-registered individuals may need to wait weeks or longer for available appointments.

As part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, 36 CVS Pharmacy locations in Virginia receive 26,000 first doses per week beyond Virginia’s normal allocation. Anyone 65 years of age or older can check cvs.com regularly for available appointments. The number of weekly doses and retail locations participating are expected to increase in the coming weeks. The Virginia Department of Health will continue to help CVS select locations based on equity indicators, to ensure all populations have access to vaccines. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/additional-pharmacy-networks-added-to-federal-partnership-to-provide-no-cost-covid-19-vaccines/

Additional pharmacies are receiving approximately 26,000 first doses per week, including Food City, Giant, Kroger, Safeway, Walgreens, Walmart, and multiple independent community pharmacies. The Commonwealth is helping these pharmacies select locations to maximize the equitable distribution of vaccines and offer appointments to people on existing local health district waitlists.

Virginia is seeing delays in this week’s vaccine shipments because of severe winter weather. The Commonwealth will likely see a delay in the delivery of approximately 106,800 doses because distribution channels in the Midwest and elsewhere are currently shut down. The Virginia Department of Health is distributing guidance to providers on how to determine the status of their vaccine and ancillary supply orders, and is working closely with federal partners to determine the status of orders and how to mitigate the delay and impact on Virginians.

Virginians can get information, pre-register, and verify that they have pre-registered, online 24/7 at virginia.gov or by calling 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682) 7 days a week, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm ET.

Best Practice Spotlight

V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after patients receive a COVID-19 vaccine and allows CDC to monitor vaccine safety. As of January 24, ACIP reported that only 9.52% of COVID-19 vaccine recipients completed at least one v-safe check in. For this reason, it is important to provide patients with a v-safe handout in the most appropriate language and ensure they know how to sign up. Consider using the following best practices:

1. Stock your clinic with v-safe handouts that suit the anticipated language and accessibility needs of your patient population.
2. Package the v-safe handout, EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, and other education or consent forms (if applicable) and give to patients before their appointment. For example, email the package to patients after online registration, put it in their patient portal, or send it with the appointment reminder.
3. Encourage patients to sign up for v-safe during their post-vaccination observation period and/or remind them to sign up during check-out.