NewFDA Extends Shelf Life of Certain Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended the shelf life of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for individuals ages 12 and older (vials with a gray cap) and the vaccine for individuals ages 5-11 (vials with an orange cap) from 9 months to 12 months from the date of manufacture. This is based on ongoing stability data completed by the FDA. Please see this Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines expiration date notice for specific expiration dates.
Note: Doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine vials for individuals ages 12 years and older (vials with a purple cap) with an expiry date of September 2021 to March 2022 may remain in use for 3 months beyond the printed date if vials are maintained in approved storage conditions (minus 90° Celsius to minus 60° Celsius, minus 130° Fahrenheit to minus 76° Fahrenheit).
April 19 Update Molnupiravir Correction: There was an error in the last COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics update dated April 19, 2022. Molnupiravir was categorized as an injectable medication when it is an oral therapeutic created by Merck. This medication only exists in an oral formulation and can only be ordered in this dosage form. The error has been corrected in this update.
Reminder: ODH Announces COVID-19 Therapeutics for Pharmacies
The Ohio Department of Health announced that they are expanding their oral and injectable COVID-19 therapeutic provider network to include pharmacy providers. This expansion will allow ODH to ship the Pfizer oral therapeutic Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) and the Merck oral therapeutic, Molnupiravir for dispensing in pharmacies. A short onboarding process is required to receive these shipments. If your pharmacy is part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy (FRP) partnership, use this FRP COVID-19 Therapeutics Guidance Document. If your pharmacy is not part of the federal retail pharmacy network, use this Site Specific COVID-19 Therapeutics Guidance Document. Both documents contain information about enrollment, reporting, therapeutics locator, wastage management, and additional reference documents.
Reminder: Medicaid Patients Eligible for $100 Incentive for First COVID-19 Vaccine and All Booster Doses
The Ohio Department of Medicaid and Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) announced continued and additional incentives for Medicaid and MyCare patients to receive their COVID-19 vaccine series and booster shots. Here is additional information:
Reminder: $100 COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Fee
ODM and Ohio’s MCOs 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, have been extended to June 30, 2022. See further details on the https://www.covidvaxonthespot.com/providers/ Provider and Pharmacy Resources webpage. The MCO leadership encourages pharmacies to assist Medicaid patients with accessing first, second, and booster shots through phone calls, walk-in appointments, and other personalized outreach.
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.