Friday, September 15, 2017

Early start to flu season in Maine

The flu has officially arrived in Maine for the 2017-2018 season. U.S. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Vaccine for the 2017-2018 flu season has been updated to better match circulating flu viruses.
Disease Surveillance and Reporting
Maine CDC is hosting a “Start of the 2017-18 Influenza Season” conference call at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 28. The intent of this call is to provide updates for the season, outline resources available, and remind facilities of the requirements for the flu season. This call is particularly relevant for: infection practitioners, providers, laboratorians, employee health, emergency preparedness, hospital administration, and long term care facilities. Talking points will be distributed after the call, as well as questions and information highlighted on the call.
Lines may be limited, so if multiple people from one location intend to call in, please call in together.
Call in number:  877-455-0244 Code:  6681820529#
For up-to-date information and recommendations on influenza for health professionals, go to http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals
For influenza surveillance information in Maine, go to www.maineflu.gov.
2017-2018 Vaccine Information for Providers
Children younger than eight who have never received flu vaccine will need a booster dose no less than 28 days after the first dose of flu vaccine.
Vaccine is open for ordering. Limited supplies of multi-dose vials are available. If interested in ordering multi-dose vials, please call vaccine management at 287-3347.
Influenza vaccine ordered for the 2017/2018 season IS subject to replacement for preventable wastage.
Children under the age of 19 only are eligible for vaccine through the Maine Immunization Program. Repeated fraudulent administration of this public vaccine to individuals 19 years and older will result in a referral to CMS for fraud investigation.
Under Maine statute, all doses of public vaccine administered must be recorded in the Immunization Registry within five working days.
Ordering guidelines:
  • 2017 Provider Agreement must be active
  • Temperatures and inventory reconciliation must be up to date
  • Order only a supply anticipated to be utilized in the next six-week time period
VFC eligibility screening is mandatory for every child and every vaccine. Eligibility screening must be documented in the ImmPact registry.
  • Under 19 years of age
  • Medicaid
  • Uninsured
  • American Indian/Alaska Native

Privately insured children do receive public vaccine; however, they must be documented as Not VFC Eligible in ImmPact.