PROVIDENCE OREGON – By participating in the caregiver influenza program, you help protect our patients and communities from the flu.
Providence clinicians: Get your flu shot or sign a declination by Oct. 31
If you are employed by Providence, you are asked to do one of the following by the last day of October:
- Get a flu shot through caregiver health services.
- Submit an attestation for vaccines received outside of caregiver health services.
- Sign a declination form.
See the flu vaccination SharePoint site for more information and to find a vaccination event near you.
Medical staff: Attest your vaccination
For credentialed clinicians not employed by Providence — including physicians, advanced practice clinicians and allied health professionals:
- Complete the flu vaccination attestation for Providence Central Division.
- For more information or help with the online form, please contact Patrick Locke in the medical staff office.
See what we know about the COVID vaccine to date
A message from Susan Huang, M.D., and Sylvain Trepanier, D.N.P, RN.
Dear Providence caregivers,
In August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the updated COVID vaccine but has changed the recommendations on who is eligible to receive the vaccine. The FDA is limiting shots to those 65+ or those with underlying health conditions.
In the meantime, other medical associations and public health agencies have released different guidelines, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, State of Washington, and California Department of Public Health. Additionally, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine use, will convene Sept. 18-19 to review the FDA’s recommendations.
With a mix of contradictory recommendations, there is understandable confusion for Providence patients and caregivers as to who is eligible to receive the vaccine. Providence is carefully evaluating revised guidance from the FDA on the updated COVID-19 vaccines and is awaiting further recommendations from the CDC and state public health authorities to understand how this may or may not affect our family of organizations. Once these recommendations are reviewed, we will offer the updated 2025-2026 vaccine. The following guidance on the COVID vaccine is what is in place at this time.
We would also like to offer a special appreciation to PCN leaders and their teams who have worked hard to provide clarity around constant and often-changing information to help us navigate these complexities.
Below is a list of FAQs to help answer questions based on what we know now. We will provide updates as we receive them.
Sincerely,
Susan Huang, M.D.
Chief Physician Executive, Providence
Chief Executive, Providence Clinical Network
Sylvain Trepanier, D.N.P., RN, CENP, FAONL, FAAN
Chief Nursing Executive, Providence
COVID vaccine FAQs
Who is eligible for the COVID vaccine at this time?
The FDA announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is ready for use, but it has limited the clinical indication for the vaccine to individuals over 65 years old and those between 6 months and 64 years old with at least one condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. This is different from previous years when it was labeled for everyone over 6 months.
Certain professional organizations have released their own recommendations, and some do not align with the FDA’s new label:
- Children: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children age 6 to 23 months get vaccinated, as well as older children at high-risk of severe COVID-19 or those living with someone who is high-risk.
- Pregnant women: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published guidance recommending that pregnant women receive the vaccine at any point during pregnancy, when planning to become pregnant, in the postpartum period, or while lactating.
- Adults: American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have yet to give input regarding their recommendations for adults and immunocompromised patients. However, IDSA did put out a strong reactive statement in August.
- The federal government will weigh in again this week through ACIP— an external advisory committee to the CDC that sets vaccine policy—on who they advise should receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
- Bottom line: At this time, if someone is not within the FDA label (for example, a healthy 1-year-old) but still wants the COVID-19 vaccine this fall, a provider would need to prescribe/order the COVID-19 vaccine “off-label.”
What vaccines are available for children?
The vaccines available for children are:
- Moderna’s SPIKEVAX for those 6 months and older
- Pfizer’s COMIRNATY COVID-19 vaccine for those 5 years and older
- Novavax’s NUVAXOVID for those 12 years and older
What qualifies as high risk?
“High risk” is not defined by the FDA. The FDA defaults to this CDC review, which remains unchanged from earlier this year. CDC’s “high-risk” list covers a significant portion of the U.S. adult population. This list could be changed in September during the ACIP meeting.
Will insurance cover the COVID vaccine?
For patients: Patients will need to reach out to their insurance provider to confirm coverage and determine any out-of-pocket costs for the COVID vaccine. This includes instances where patients are prescribed or ordered an off-label vaccine.
For caregivers: All plans through the Providence family of organizations will cover the COVID vaccine if caregivers receive it at an in-network provider or pharmacy.
Will the COVID vaccine be provided to our caregivers?
As in years past, CHS will refer caregivers to a local pharmacy. All plans through the Providence family of organizations will cover the vaccine if caregivers receive it at an in-network provider or pharmacy.
We are also evaluating potential operational solutions to help ensure that health care workers, regardless of age or medical condition, can receive the vaccine to protect themselves, their patients and their families.
Are PCN providers writing prescriptions for the COVID vaccine?
The Providence Clinical Network will provide prescriptions for the COVID vaccine, if requested and clinically appropriate, to help facilitate patients receiving the vaccine at a pharmacy. Once recommendations are in place PCN plans to offer the 2025-2026 vaccine.
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