Important Updates for Health Care Providers Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines

Information provided by the Florida Board of Medicine

Providers Authorized to Administer the COVID-19 Vaccine

The list below contains health care professions whose governing practice act or federal guidance authorizes the administration of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines. If you have specific questions regarding a profession, please contact the respective regulatory board office at MedicalQualityAssurance@flhealth.gov

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new guidance on March 12, 2021, to expand the pool of qualified professionals able to serve as COVID-19 vaccinators. HHS has used its authority under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to add additional categories of qualified people authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including dentists, emergency medical technicians, midwives, optometrists, paramedics, physician assistants, podiatrists, respiratory therapists, and veterinarians. This action also authorizes medical students, nursing students, and other health care students in the professions listed under the PREP Act with proper training and professional supervision to serve as additional COVID-19 vaccinators under an established COVID-19 vaccine enrolled provider. More information about the PREP Act and requirements to administer the COVID-19 vaccine for health care practitioners authorized under this guidance can be found at PHE.gov. Some of the requirements include:

Documentation of completion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules,

Documentation of an observation period by a currently practicing health care professional experienced in administering intramuscular injections, and Current certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

HHS has also authorized physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, practical nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy interns, midwives, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, respiratory therapists, dentists, physician assistants, podiatrists, optometrists who have held an active license within the last five years, which is inactive, expired, or retired, to serve as COVID-19 vaccinator under an established COVID-19 vaccine enrolled provider. Employers can view the licensure status and disciplinary history for retired and inactive health care practitioners on the Department of Health’s website located here.

COVID-19 Vaccine Reporting Requirements

Florida Department of Health, Emergency Rule 64DER21-4, Florida Administrative

Code, requires all enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers to report vaccination data in

Florida SHOTS within 24 hours of administration. This emergency rule follows Emergency Rule 64DER20-43, Florida Administrative Code, which expired March 14, 2021. The following data elements are required when reporting:

How Can I Become a COVID-19 Vaccine Provider?

To become a COVID-19 vaccine provider, your practice or organization must be enrolled in the Florida State Health Online Tracking System (Florida SHOTS) and the Vaccines for Children/Adults Program (VFC/VFA). For questions or additional information, please contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment Desk at 833-701- 1397, or email CovidVaccineProgram@flhealth.gov.

Click here to view the flyer with enrollment instructions:

http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/COVID19VaccineInfo/_documents/covid-vaccine-provider-flowchart.pdf

Florida SHOTS has a number of trainings available to help providers. These trainings can be accessed by visiting http://flshotsusers.com/.

Florida COVID-19 Vaccine Weekly Pre-Book Request Opens

The Florida COVID-19 vaccine weekly pre-book request is now open in Florida SHOTS. Weekly pre-book requests allow COVID-19 vaccine enrolled providers to share their ability and desire to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Requests do not guarantee an allocation will be made. This information will be used to assist leadership with planning activities throughout the state.

For more detailed information, please click here.

Helpful Resources

Health care provider notifications - www.flhealthsource.gov/covid19 Florida Department of Health Immunization Section COVID-19 vaccine webpage http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/COVID-

19VaccineInfo/index.html

Florida Department of Health COVID-19 webpage - www.floridahealthcovid19.gov