COVID-19 Vaccines

Three vaccines are now available to prevent COVID-19 disease in the United States:

• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
• Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

See interim clinical considerations for use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) currently authorized in the US from the CDC for administration, patient counseling, and other details.

Walk-in Vaccine Clinics, September 13-19

• East Whatcom Regional Resource Center
  • Tuesday, Sept. 14, 9am-noon
  • 8251 Kendall Rd, Maple Falls
  • Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson
  • COVID-19 testing (antigen only, not for travel) is also available here.
  • Vaccine recipients will also receive a $25 gift card to local grocery stores.
• PeaceHealth Cordata Clinic
  • Thursday, Sept. 16, 5:30-6:30pm and Saturday, Sept. 18, 10am-noon
  • 4545 Cordata Pkwy, Bellingham
  • Pfizer
  • First and second doses available.
  • Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. Click here to make an appointment.
• Old Lynden Middle School Gym 
  • Friday, Sept. 17, 3-6pm
  • 516 Main St, Lynden
  • Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson
  • Testing offered here too (antigen only, not for travel).
  • Vaccine recipients receive a $10 food credit for Bordertown Mexican Grill’s food truck in Lynden.

Encouraging Vaccination and Talking with Patients

On July 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory declaring an urgent need to increase the percentage of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Promote the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinate everyone 12 years or older, including those who are pregnant, lactating or who may become pregnant.

For information about the role of healthcare providers in encouraging vaccination and tips on how to have conversations with patients, the following resources may be helpful to you:

• How Health Care Providers Can Promote COVID-19 Vaccination
• Fostering COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Russian- and Ukrainian-Speaking Communities
• Vaccine Confidence Discussion Guide
• Confronting Health Misinformation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Health Information Environment

Vaccine timing and completion

• Restarting the series: Currently, there is no recommendation to restart either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series due to time between the first and second doses. While we know the second dose is most effective given 21 or 28 days after the first dose, there is no need to restart the series if the second dose is given later than that. If a patient comes in overdue for their second dose, you only need to administer the second dose to complete the series.

• Additional doses: Currently, there is no finalized recommendation to give additional doses of vaccine when the series is completed, other than to immunocompromised individuals as described below. Ongoing review of safety and efficacy of the number of doses in each series continues.

• Updated standing orders: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be revising standing orders for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to include additional screening for Guillain-Barré syndrome recommended during their July 8, 2021, update to the Emergency Use Authorization Fact Sheets.
  • Updated provider EUA fact sheet
  • Updated patient EUA fact sheet

This follows the previous revisions informing people of the increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). Following a thorough safety review weighing the benefits and risks, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the ongoing use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine under a revised emergency use authorization (EUA). ACIP recommended the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include a warning statement and Johnson & Johnson include an information sheet at vaccination informing people about the increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

Discard any Johnson & Johnson EUA Fact Sheets you have on hand and use the new fact sheets.

If a patient is concerned about the increased risk associated with J&J vaccine, offer Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

Third dose of Pfizer/Moderna for immunocompromised individuals

On August 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended its emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow an additional (third) dose for certain immunocompromised people including those who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response

Do not offer additional (third) doses to other fully vaccinated people.

Call and recall patients determined to be immunocompromised who received Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and offer an additional (third) dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Offer the same vaccine product (i.e., Pfizer or Moderna) the person originally received.

Those who received a Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible for an additional dose. Data is insufficient to support recommending an additional dose for J&J recipients at this time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA are actively working to provide further guidance on this issue.

Vaccine costs

Following the issuance of an emergency order from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, healthcare providers can now bill insurance for vaccine consults with patients, even if the patient does not get vaccinated at that visit.

Patients should not pay out-of-pocket costs to get COVID-19 vaccine. Enrolled providers must give the vaccine regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Providers may bill a patient’s health plan or program. Providers may not bill the patient for the balance. For details, see CDC’s information on filing claims for reimbursement.

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Storage Updates

The FDA updated its Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine storage guidelines. The vaccine may be kept at standard frozen temperatures, including:

• Storing undiluted Pfizer vaccine vials at -25°C to -15°C for up to 2 weeks.
• Transport undiluted Pfizer vaccine vials at -25°C to -15°C.
• Continue to thaw and store Pfizer vaccine in the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C) for up to 5 days.

View the updated fact sheet.

The FDA has also extended the shelf life of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine from 4½ months to 6 months when the vaccine has been refrigerated at temperatures of 36° to 46° Fahrenheit (2° to 8° Celsius). Visit the J&J lot expiry checker to determine the updated expiration of your vaccine.

Enrollment is Still Open

Helpful Resources for Offices Administering Vaccine

·       Pre-vaccination checklist for COVID-19 vaccines:

English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog

.        V-Safe Infographic:

English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog

·       Moderna EUA fact sheet for recipients and caregivers

·       Pfizer EUA fact sheet for recipients and caregivers

·       Johnson & Johnson EUA Fact sheet for recipients and caregivers

Additional Information for Providers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) COVID-19 Vaccine Training Module offers a general overview of immunization best practices for healthcare providers.

The DOH COVID-19 vaccine provider toolkit has many helpful resources.

Keep your patients informed.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine planning, development and safety standards from DOH and CDC.