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OPA COVID-19 Vaccines: May 24, 2021 Update

Pfizer Vaccine Refrigeration Storage Authorization Extended
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized extended refrigerator storage for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This directive allows for the storage of unopened vaccine vials in refrigerator temperatures (2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius) for up to one month. This time limit has increased from the previously authorized five days refrigerator storage limit. Providers should label vials that currently are in their possession under the new beyond use date directives.

Ohio Vax-a-Million Outreach Communications Toolkit
Governor DeWine recently announced a series of incentives in an effort to increase the number of vaccinated  Ohioans. These incentives were created to raise awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has created a vax-a-million communications toolkit to help promote this public health campaign. This toolkit includes talking points, a newsletter/website article, graphics, and social media posts. Providers are encouraged to use this toolkit to promote this public health campaign.

Vaccine Allocation Survey for May 31, 2021
The Governor's office continues to facilitate vaccine allocation among independent pharmacy vaccinators. If you are contracted with the state as a vaccinator, please respond to the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Survey to share your allocation needs for the week of 5/31 to report your pharmacy's needs. If your responses have not changed, you do not need to respond to the survey. You will be asked to respond to the following questions: 

  • Do you require a bi-weekly vaccine allocation due to a decrease in demand?
  • Are you interested in conducting employer vaccine clinics?
    • If you answered yes, how many vaccines will you need in the coming week (5/31)?
  • Do you plan to conduct walk-in vaccine clinics?
  • NewAre you contracted with OutcomesMTM or CSS Health for medication therapy management programs?

We will continue to send this update weekly to better facilitate allocation decisions.  Please respond to the survey by Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

Helpful State Vaccine Resources and Information
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. For further questions, please contact Myriam Shaw Ojeda, Fellow in Policy and Innovation, at mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org.

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