Health Care Provider Medical Advisory: Product change to Shingrix
What is happening?
The Ministry of Health’s publicly funded vaccine for herpes zoster will be changing to a 2-dose Shingrix series when the 1-dose Zostavax supply expires and runs out in October 2020. Eligibility for publicly funded product remains at age 65-70. Those who turned or will turn 71 in 2020 will have a grace period extending to the end of 2021 to be immunized against herpes zoster, due to gaps in vaccine accessibility related to COVID-19 response. However, those 65-70 who already received a publicly funded Zostavax vaccine are NOT eligible for publicly funded Shingrix.
Actions required
- Order Shingrix starting mid-October (NWHU order form will be updated).
- Check expiry dates on any Zostavax held at your facility.
- Remove from fridge and return to NWHU (non cold chain) any unused, expired Zostavax. Please do not discard it, the Ministry of Health receives credit from the pharmaceutical company for returned, expired product, so throwing out product wastes tax dollars.
- Begin offering Shingrix to patients 65-70 (not already immunized with publicly funded Zostavax) during existing appointments.
- This is a 2 dose series, please remind patients they will need to return for a second dose at a future appointment 2-6 months later.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Contact:
Donna Stanley, RN CIC
Manager, Infectious Diseases
Northwestern Health Unit
(807) 223-3301 ext.302520