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OPA COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics: May 3, 2022 Update
NewODH Updates Guidance on Ordering, Storage, and Handling of COVID-19 Vaccines
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) updated their guidance on ordering, storage, and handling of all available COVID-19 vaccines. This update has easy to follow guides on the different COVID-19 vaccine vials available for specific age groups. The guidance also includes information on storing vials following the expiration extensions for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine vials and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine vials. If you have further questions, please email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov or call 1-844-9ODHVAX (1-844-963-4829) from 8 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.
NewFDA Updates At Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Expiration Information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated their COVID-19 diagnostic test webpage to include expiration date information in their At Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests webpage. This is to help consumers find information in a centralized location. Additionally, the At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions webpage was also updated to include information on using COVID-19 diagnostic tests after they pass their listed expiration date and exposure to extreme temperatures.
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 ODH Therapeutics FRPP Information Document. If your pharmacy is not part of the federal retail pharmacy network, use this ODH Therapeutics Site Information 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:
- Medicaid and MyCare patients ages five and older are eligible to receive a $100 gift card for their first COVID-19 vaccine. See this first dose incentive flyer for additional information.
- Medicaid patients ages 12 and older are eligible to receive a $100 gift card for their first and second booster COVID-19 vaccines. See this booster dose incentive flyer for additional information. Note: MyCare patients are not included in this incentive.
- Both incentives extend to June 30, 2022.
- Each MCO has different requirements for patients to claim their gift cards, and the flyers provide 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.
