From the ND Department of Health & Human Services - Vaccine Updates

Please see below for very important vaccine-related updates.

RSV Maternal Vaccine Prescription

Due to the supply constraints of nirsevimab it’s increasingly important that healthcare providers offer and/or have conversations with expectant mothers about receiving Abrysvo between 32-36 weeks’ gestation. If pregnant women are unable to receive the vaccine at their healthcare provider’s office, they should be referred to a pharmacy or local public health department that carries this product for vaccination. In order to ensure that the pharmacist or other provider administers the vaccine at the appropriate gestational week, providers may wish to provide written documentation to the pharmacy. Pharmacists are not required to have a prescription for Abrysvo. An example of Abrysvo during pregnancy prescription can be found on the NDHHS website.

Pregnancy RSV Rx Pad

RSV Standing Orders Available from Immunize.org

ACIP has made routine recommendations for the prevention of RSV in infancy through either maternal RSV vaccination or infant immunization with nirsevimab preventive antibody. Immunize​.org now offers two new standing orders templates: one for RSV vaccination during pregnancy, and one for nirsevimab for infants. The nirsevimab standing order template reflects the revised guidelines for eligibility for the 2023–24 season issued by CDC on October 23 in its Health Alert Network advisory concerning the shortage of nirsevimab in its initial season. The templates are: 

• Standing Orders for Administering Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine (Abrysvo) during Pregnancy
• Standing Orders for Administering Nirsevimab RSV Preventive Antibody to Infants (2023–24 Season Only)

Updated Nirsevimab HAN (see attached email)

This HAN was previously sent out but please review if you didn’t get it the first time.

COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering Available in the NDIIS Starting Monday, November 13th

Starting Monday, November 13th providers will be able to place their own COVID-19 vaccine orders in the NDIIS.  Ordered doses may be reduced based on current inventory, historical administration, and available doses.  When possible please try to combine COVID-19 orders with your routine vaccine orders.  Please also make it very obvious in the comments section of the COVID-19 vaccine line in your order whether these doses will be utilized for pediatric or adult use.  When vaccine orders are approved by ND HHS different funding sources are used depending on if the intended recipients are adults or children. As a reminder, COVID-19 vaccine is only available from ND HHS for VFC-eligible children and uninsured/underinsured adults.

“Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers”: watch the 3-minute video, part of the Improving the Vaccination Experience Video Series on YouTube

This week’s featured video from immunize.org shares how parents and caregivers can help infants better cope with vaccination distress in a 3-minute video, Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants: Strategies for Vaccine Recipients and Caregivers, from Immunize​.org’s new Improving the Vaccination Experience Video Series. It is available on their YouTube channel, along with a full collection of quick video answers to popular Ask the Experts questions.

This week's featured video focuses on a new 1-page resource for parents of infants: Addressing Vaccination Anxiety for Infants and Toddlers: Strategies for Parents and Caregivers.

Immunize​.org’s series of short videos introduces you to different ways to improve the vaccination experience for infants, children, teens, and adults. Three are for a general audience, and three are for healthcare professionals. As with all Immunize​.org resources, these videos are free to download, link, copy, and share.