Your facility may want to consider enrolling as a vaccine provider to order, receive, and administer your own vaccines in-house. Enrolling as a vaccine provider grants a facility access to the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS), allowing Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) to easily look up patient, resident, and/or staff vaccine data. VIIS can serve as an important tool for assessing whether additional doses are necessary, including booster doses pending approval by the FDA and the CDC.

The VA COVID-19 vaccine small shipment redistribution program (SSRP) also allows an entity to place a COVID-19 vaccine order based on its need to be delivered and administered on the same day—eliminating the need to store vaccines. An entity is able to order as little as 10 doses (1 vial) for same day use. In addition, CDC’s “no missed opportunity” guidance allows entities to open a vial for one individual if they must and waste the remaining doses.

LTCFs who enroll with the state are not required to order their own vaccines and will have the option to continue working with their contracted pharmacy. As a contingency, it would provide access to vaccines should the need ever arise for a facility to order and administer its own vaccines. Additionally, access to VIIS allows an LTCF to easily look-up patient, resident, and/or staff vaccine data and the ability to confirm whether an individual has had received a first or second dose, as well as the time and place administered.

The enrollment process is simple, interested facilities should fill out and submit a COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Intent Form. Once the form is reviewed and approved, VDH will work with the facility to grant Virginia Electronic Registration for Immunization Programs (VERIP) and VIIS access. The final two steps in enrollment are:

1. attending VIIS training, and
2. signing the CDC Agreement. VIIS training is also pre-recorded and available offline to accommodate busy schedules.

VDH encourages all facilities to complete their enrollment as COVID-19 vaccine providers.

Please see below resources for more information on enrollment.

• COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Intent Form Instructions
• COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Intent Form FAQ
• COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Enrollment Process Flow & Checklist
• VDH COVID 19 Vaccine Healthcare Professionals Page