Informational Webinar Tonight from Ohio AAP and ODH on COVID-19 Vaccine for 12 and Older

Dear Ohio AAP Members,

Now that the FDA has authorized the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15-year olds, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are asking for your help to vaccinate and protect Ohio’s children and teenagers. Vaccinations for this age group can begin after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares updated recommendations for the vaccine’s use, and after Ohio expands its eligibility criteria to match.

In an effort to be able to immediately vaccinate youth patients once authorized, ODH and Ohio AAP are urging pediatric practices to ensure patients have access to the vaccine as soon as possible.

Parents/guardians of eligible children may feel more comfortable talking with their own trusted pediatrician’s office about the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinating their children rather than taking them to a mass vaccination clinic or a less familiar provider. Vaccination can also be a scary experience for children. Pediatric practices offer friendly, familiar faces and a gentle touch to make the experience the best it can be for children.

Now is the time for pediatric healthcare providers to enroll as vaccine providers, or if already enrolled, begin accepting shipments.

In case some provider requirements have been barriers to you enrolling or receiving vaccine in the past, please note the following updates:

• Providers are no longer expected to administer the COVID vaccine to non-patients and can schedule appointments for their own patients only.
• Previous vaccination throughput capacity requirements have been modified.
• Previous requirements to administer vaccine allocations within seven days of receipt have been eliminated to allow for more flexibility. However, ODH continues to request that providers administer vaccine allocations as quickly as possible.
• While every effort to minimize vaccine waste should be taken, practices will not be adversely impacted if they aren’t able to use their entire supply.
• Ultra-cold storage capability has never been a requirement, even for the Pfizer vaccine. Vaccines requiring cold storage beyond normal refrigeration capabilities are shipped in thermal storage containers that can be used safely by the provider following manufacturer guidance included with the shipment. Read more about storage, handling and administration of the Pfizer vaccine from the CDC.

Informational webinar

Together, ODH and Ohio AAP will present a webinar on Wednesday, May 12, at 5 p.m. to review and discuss provider enrollment requirements and best practices around COVID-19 vaccinations for children.

**This is for Ohio AAP Members Only! 

Webinar Registration

How to enroll as a COVID-19 vaccine provider

Requirements for becoming a COVID-19 vaccination provider and information about how to enroll are available on the ODH Ohio COVID-19 Provider Enrollment webpage. Please note that only one individual needs to complete the enrollment process per primary care office site/location and can be the office manager or another designated staffer.

All providers at the practice site who are legally authorized to administer vaccines can administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

How to request vaccine if you are already enrolled

If you have already enrolled as a provider but are not currently receiving shipments, and you would like to start receiving shipments, please take the following actions:

• Send an email message to COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov
• Use the subject line: COVID-19 vaccine request
• In the email message, please include:
  • The vaccine product(s) you are requesting, which would be Pfizer if you are administering to children.
  • The number of doses you would like to receive.
    • Note, your request should be for first doses only. Second-dose allocations will be made based on first-dose allocations.
    • Vaccine can be directly shipped from the manufacturer in increments of 1,170 doses.
    • The Pfizer two-dose vaccine is available in increments of 120, shipped from the ODH Receipt, Store, and Stage (RSS) Warehouse.
    • To help ODH quickly process your request, please include your Location ID and Provider Identification Number and/or Provider Location Name and Address in your response.

Consider partnering with another provider or organization

If you are not ready to receive vaccine at your location, consider starting out by building a partnership with other providers or groups in your community, including schools or community organizations supporting youth, for vaccination clinics set up to meet the needs of children.

If you have any questions about enrolling as a COVID-19 vaccination provider, please call the ODH Provider Call Center between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, at 1-844-9ODHVAX (1-844-963-4829) or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov.

Working together, we can help end the COVID-19 pandemic by vaccinating Ohioans, including eligible children whose parents/guardians consent to vaccination.

Sincerely,

Ohio Department of Health Vaccine Provider Relations Team

Ohio chapter of the American Association of Pediatrics

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