Use reminder/ recall systems to bring in patients who are due for vaccination!!
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VFC Provider
The Maryland Vaccines for Children (VFC) program wants you and your staff to be aware of the significant decrease in pediatric vaccinations both in Maryland and across the United States during the COVID-19 national emergency. Recent data from ImmuNet, showed that the number of vaccine doses administered to children ages 0-18 years in March 2020 when compared with March 2019 was down (decreased) 27%; when comparing April 2020 to April 2019, the number of doses was down (decreased by) 56%.
The data also showed significant decreases in vaccine doses administered by vaccine type for both time frames. For the routine childhood vaccines given to children younger than 24 months, the largest decreases were seen in the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, with a decrease of 71% and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine with a decrease of 68%.
CDC recently published Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Pediatric Vaccine Ordering and Administration – United States, 2020 , which describes drastic reductions in vaccine ordering from the VFC program and in child and teen vaccinations. On March 30, 2020, the Maryland VFC program sent an email to all VFC Providers emphasizing the importance of maintaining routine well-child care and vaccinations, particularly for children ages 24 months and younger, when many childhood vaccines are recommended, echoing guidance from CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
We encourage all VFC Providers, both those who have continued to see patients during the pandemic and those who are now resuming office visits, to prioritize well-child and vaccination visits. We also strongly encourage providers to implement reminder/recall procedures in an effort to urge patients/parents to schedule or reschedule immunization appointments. Vaccinating children and teens is of the utmost importance. Postponing vaccination puts Maryland children at risk for preventable infection.
Reminder recall systems are powerful methods/tools that can be used to identify children that are due soon for vaccinations (reminder) and those that are not up to date and need to be caught up (recall). ImmuNet, as well as many EHRs, have this capability built into their systems.
Please see the link below for guidance on how to use the reminder recall feature in ImmuNet.
Reminder / Recall Request Guide
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Parental fears about potentially exposing children to COVID-19 may contribute to the recent decline in vaccine delivery. Medical practices need to implement safety protocols to protect families and reassure parents that safety protocols are in place. CDC has issued guidance Get Your Clinic Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019. It provides tips on protecting patients and healthcare workers, including screening patients via telephone before they arrive at the practice and handling patients who present with symptoms and still need to be treated in-person.
Another useful CDC resource includes COVID-19 Print Resources with signs that could be utilized at clinic entrances, PPE tip sheets, how to wear cloth face covers, hand washing signs in several languages and more.
We are aware that many providers may be practicing with limited revenue due to reduced patient visits. We have discussed with vaccine manufacturers the challenges of purchasing vaccines with limited financial resources and returning expired private vaccine. We have been reassured they have plans in place to address both of these issues during the pandemic. Please contact your vaccine representative to discuss further.
Please see the link below for guidance on how to use the reminder recall feature in ImmuNet.
Please see the link below to view the ImmuNet guidance document for using the reminder/recall feature.
https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Shared%20Documents/ImmuNet_Reminder-Recall-Request.pdf
Training video for using the reminder/recall features in ImmuNet. this training video MUST be viewed in Internet Explorer.
https://www.mdimmunet.org/videos/Reminder_Recall/Reminder_Recall.htm
Please see links below for immunization and Covid-19 guidance from CDC, AAP and AAFP
We recognize that the pandemic is affecting immunization services differently across providers in the state. CDC indicates that for offices that can only provide limited well-child visits, please prioritize newborn care and vaccination visits through age 24 months when possible. CDC, AAP, and AAFP have issued guidance for routine childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization during the COVID-19 response. There is also guidance regarding maternal immunizations as well as perinatal hepatitis B prevention. Below are these documents:
CDC’sInterim Guidance to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (under “Vaccination Recommendations during the COVID-19 Pandemic”)
CDC’s Delivery of Adult Clinical Preventive Services, Including Immunizations
AAFP’s COVID-19: Guidance for Family Physicians on Preventive and Non-urgent Care
AAP’s COVID-19 Clinical Guidance Q&A
ACOG’s COVID-19 FAQs for Obstetrician-Gynecologists, Obstetrics
https://www.immunizationcoalitions.org/resource-repository/
Vaccinate Your Family has just released guidance on communication about vaccinations during the pandemic (“Call, don’t cancel“), as well as unique strategies for raising rates. Don’t miss their great tools:
Communication Strategies for Raising Vaccination Rates During COVID-19
Call, Don’t Cancel: Talking to People about Vaccinations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
