JoAnn,
It’s been a long time since we’ve been in touch—this is a blast from the past (Hospital Employee Health days). I hope you’re doing well in these challenging times. I’m still writing about health and medicine, primarily for Wired, Medscape, and Health Affairs. I saw your MCOH email regarding initial Covid-19 vaccination—it sounds like HCWs may be offered the vaccine under an EUA before the Phase 3 trials end. I was wondering if this decision has already been made or if it will be dependent on Data & Safety Monitoring Board determinations. Also, would this be a subset of HCWs, such as hospitalists and respiratory therapists? Do you have a goal for a number or proportion of HCWs who would take it? What benefit would the vaccine provide beyond the safety conveyed by screening patients and wearing N95s and face shields (or PAPRS)? Is there any data on the number of infections and deaths of HCWs in the US?
This is a fascinating development—it reminds me a bit of the smallpox vaccination of first responders in 2003/4, although of course the threat is omnipresent now. I would like to pitch this as a story to one of my editors, but I need to understand a bit more about what’s happening or likely to happen. (I see that ACIP is meeting on Tuesday-I wonder if they’ll discuss this.)
Thanks so much!
-Michele
Michele Cohen Marill
Journalist/Writer
(404) 636-6021 (office)
(404) 380-9233 (cell)
From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net> On Behalf Of Shea, Joann via MCOH-EH
Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2020 11:35 AM
To: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Cc: Shea, Joann <jshea@tgh.org>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] COVID-19 vaccination planning
We just had our first interdisciplinary COVID-19 vaccination planning meeting (Infection Prevention, Occupational Health, Pharmacy, Distribution, Emergency Planning, ID physicians)
We were told by our Health Dept to prepare to start limited vaccinations in late Oct/early Nov with a ramp up by the end of December.
Topics we discussed:
- Vaccine storage, administration, efficacy
- Vaccine must be stored at -70◦C and will be shipped on dry ice. Our pharmacy is designated for centralized storage and an additional freezer will need to be ordered.
- Vaccine #1 can be stored at 2◦-8◦C (normal vaccine temps) for 24 hours and Vaccine #2 for up to six days
- Vaccine must be used within six hours at room temperature (both types).
- Each person will require two vaccines, one month apart. Future vaccines may only require one dose.
- CDC workgroup listed estimated efficacy at around 70% for those 64 or younger and 50% for those 65 or older after two doses.
- Protection develops 14 days post vaccination. Length of immunity unknown at present. Neutralizing antibody measured 7th days post 2nd vaccine
- Special diluent must be used.
- Team Member (aka EHS) clinic will administer vaccine initially by invited appointment
- We will probably use pool staff to assist with administration
- Vaccine will only be offered to HCWs initially and we anticipate giving approximately 30,000 doses (15,000 HCWs) by spring/summer 2021.
- Depending on vaccine availability, we may offer to high risk (i.e. transplant) patients.
- We have already ordered supplies (syringe, needles, etc) .
- Vaccine Availability and Prioritization
- CDC Workgroup estimates:
- 1-2 million doses available Oct; 10-20 million Nov; 20-30 million Dec
- 9 million essential HCW
- 16 million other essential workers (homeland security, policy, first responders, education, emergency operations, food supply)
- 100 million U.S. population in high risk groups (52 million age 65 or older)
- We were told by our health dept to expect around 200 vaccines per week for first month, then a larger increase by end of second month.
- We have pulled number of team members by cost center and have assigned our highest priority to 700 HCWs/physicians in the Emergency Dept, COVID-19 ICU, Security, COVD-19 testing site, etc.for first vaccination group.
- We plan to survey these areas to determine who would agree to vaccination in the initial offering as phase III trials will still be ongoing and some HCWs are reluctant to be part of the initial group
- No decisions made on whether we will require vaccination in high risk areas or for our HCWs currently sheltering in place at home.
- Other
- Developing portal page on COVID-19 vaccination as well as consent form
- Working with our communication/PR dept on messaging
- Goal is to have everything prepared to start by end of October
Would love to hear what others are doing to prepare.
JoAnn Shea, APRN, MS, COHN-S
Director, Team Member Health and Wellness
Tampa General Hospital
Office: 813-844-7692
Cell: 813-789-3441
From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net> On Behalf Of Abhijay Karandikar via MCOH-EH
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2020 11:18 AM
To: mcoh-eh@mylist.net
Cc: Abhijay Karandikar <dr_abhik@yahoo.com>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] COVID-19 vaccination planning
WARNING: This email came from an external source outside of Tampa General Hospital.
All of us in employee health will probably be discussing this at our respective centers, if not doing so already! So, here goes:
I am a part of a clinical operations planning group for COVID-19 vaccination program planning. Have you begun such discussions in your medical centers? If so, do you have guidelines or plans or information that is necessary to implement a successful COVID-19 vaccination program when vaccines do become available? Are there regulatory (state, JCAHO, etc.) requirements/recommendations that are currently “in the making” that you are aware of? Would you be willing to share any information?
If you want to respond separately, I will compile responses and send to the group.
Thanks and stay safe!
Abhijay
Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Reading Hospital
West Reading, PA
DO NOT CLICK on links or attachments from unsolicited senders that you don’t recognize or trust.
NEVER provide your account ID and password.