NewODH Delivery During Holiday Weekend
In preparation for the upcoming Good Friday and Easter holiday weekend, ODH has updated its delivery schedule for all COVID-19 vaccines. The schedule has been modified as follows:
Recently submitted COVID-19 vaccine orders may be processed for shipping and delivery over the holiday. Provider locations should monitor email for messages containing delivery updates and check your recently submitted order status daily in the Vaccine Ordering Management System (VOMS) through the Impact Statewide Immunization Information System (ImpactSIIS). If you are expecting a shipment, please ensure staff members are available to receive and properly store the vaccine.
NewODH Announces Changes to COVID-19 Vaccine Ancillary Kit
Starting on Monday, April 11, vaccine providers can opt-out of ordering ancillary kits for all adult COVID-19 orders provided by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Providers will need to type “No Ancillary Kit” into the comments section of the Vaccine Ordering Monitoring System. This includes COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), and Pfizer-BioNTech (gray capped vials only).
Note: Providers cannot opt-out of ancillary kits for the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (orange cap) as the ancillary kit contains the diluent necessary to administer the vaccine.
Reminder: ODH Launches Communications Toolkit for COVID-19 Boosters
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has launched a COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Communications Toolkit to assist with grassroots efforts urging patients to get their booster shot. In Ohio, over 6.7 million Ohioans have completed their initial vaccine series. However, only 3.4 million have received an additional booster dose. Residents over 65 years have only had a 36% rate of booster vaccinations. The goal of this toolkit seeks to use a hyper-personal effort to increase the number of boosters for Ohioans 50 years of age and older. The COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Communications Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccine Providers contains signage recommendations, social media examples, talking points, and more to assist vaccinators.
Reminder: FDA Shares Safety Recommendations for COVID-19 Testing Usage and Storage
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided safety recommendations for approved At-Home COVID-19 Tests. This COVID-19 Testing Safety Recommendation document urges individuals to keep the tests out of reach of children and pets, as the testing reagents may cause harm if ingested or come in contact with skin. If there is exposure to testing reagents, individuals should call your local poison control at 1.800.222.1222. or health care provider. Lastly, the tests should also be stored at recommended temperatures and disposed of safely once used.
As a reminder, the federal government continues to provide four free at-home COVID-19 tests to all households. Orders are being shipped by the United States Postal Service (USPS), and distribution dates are 7-12 days from ordering. Please direct your patients to order the tests through this website: https://special.usps.com/testkits. Here is a flyer that can be printed and posted in your pharmacy.
Patients who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support to order at home COVID -19 tests can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English Spanish, and more than 150 other languages. The phone line is open from 8 AM to midnight EST every week. The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is also available to help people with disabilities place their orders. To get help, call 1-888-677-1199, Monday-Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM EST, or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
Reminder: $100 COVID-19 Medicaid Administration Fee Deadline Extended
The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Plan (MCP) leaders announced that the administration fee for COVID-19 vaccines is $100 for all COVID-19 shots, including first, second, and booster doses for Medicaid members has been extended to June 30, 2022. See further details on the covidvaxonthespot.com on the Provider and Pharmacy Resources webpage. The MCP leadership encourages pharmacies to assist Medicaid patients with accessing first, second, and booster shots through phone calls, walk-in appointments, and other personalized outreach.
Reminder: Medicaid COVID-19 Patient Vaccine $100 Gift Card Incentive Deadline Extended
Ohio’s managed care plans announced that the $100 gift card incentive for Medicaid patients receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has been extended to June 30, 2022.
Note: This incentive is available to all Medicaid patients ages five and above who are eligible to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine. A legal guardian must accompany individuals who are minors to receive the gift card incentive.
The following resources are helpful for vaccinators to contact ODH regarding vaccine shipments:
OPA is working diligently to facilitate communication between state decision-makers and member pharmacists. OPA has created multiple COVID-19 resources, including a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Webpage, COVID-19 Testing Hub, and COVID-19 Resources Webpage, on the OPA website www.ohiopharmacists.org under the Resources drop-down box. Please contact Myriam Shaw Ojeda, Director of Pharmacy Extension and Public Health Initiatives, for further questions at mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org.