Mollen Immunization Clinic - What's your experience?

General nursing question for all----once you open a vial...OF ANYTHING....be it medication, vaccine, or even normal saline...you Date and initial. After opening, you discard after how long?? I learned in nursing school and general practice thus far has been discard open vials 30 days after opening.

I called Mollen today, because I received 2 partials of Pneumonia vaccine at my clinic today that were dated 10/10 and 10/5. I refused to use them because they were over 30 days old. Needless to say, the RN in the clinic tells me that they called Merck--who stated that regardless of when the vial was opened they were good until their expiration date. This just doesnt sound right to me---the vials expire in 2011.

What is your practice guys??
Thanks,
Felicia

Felicia that is not right! Just a side note....never trust Mollen with info they give you about nursing practice. Each vial, med whatever has its own expiration after opening. It will be in the vaccine/med insert.

I agree. I did just read the following on the CDC website:
"We recommend that you ALWAYS review the storage and handling guidelines in the manufacturer's package insert that accompanies the vaccine. However, in almost all cases, multi-dose vaccine vials can be used until the expiration date on the vial as long as the vaccine does not take on an unusual appearance and the vial is stored according to manufacturer guidelines."

BUT---I wrote everywhere...on the vaccine count sheet, day end sheet, and in the partial bag that I was returning those partials because I didnt feel comfortable using them after being opened for over 30 days. PLUS...regarding the above statement....we dont receive the package insert along with the multiple partials (and thats it) of Pneumonia vaccine that we receive AND it says as long as its stored according to guidelines---in a cooler with ice packs that lord knows when it gets back to a real refrigerator....I feel OK with unopened vials BUT we are getting more and more partials around here.

This is why Im enjoying doing the school clinics here in AZ---because we dont get Pneumonia and usually dont get too many partials---if we do theyre gone in 10 minutes. Thanks for your answer though.

I know this is a bad influence...but, I always take a insert with me and make it mine to carry with me to every clinic. I have the two types of flu and pneumo we give! I did that with the insurance booklet too. There were too many times when I needed one and didn't have one, so I took the problem into my own hands! You want things done right you do it yourself kinda thing!!!! Glad you are getting work. I am in CA and we have none here!

Florida Nurses!! Some scheduling is up for H1N1 for November. Looks like they are trying to staff 3 nurses per site. Just got the email.

There are some Ohio sites open, too!

Still nothing in MA/ NH.

Someone from Mollen called me just abit ago and stated they would be opening shifts up as they got the vaccine dependant on CDC and the state health depts little by little. So far they only opened up Wed thru Fri of this up coming week (3 days) in my area. I was surprised they took the time to start calling us rather than just an email.

Lacie,

Where are you located?

Michelle

The reason Mollen doesn't have many shifts or are opening shifts in all states is because H1N1 supply is state dependent. H1N1 is being given directly to the state and then that state decides who will be able to set up clinics and administer the vaccine. Your state could decide not to contract with Mollen to give out the vaccine. This could be because they have enough facilities in the state willing to do so. Therefore Mollen can not guarantee your state will have shifts for H1N1 administration.

Currently Mollen has set up contracts with 6 states to administer H1N1. New England is not part of those 6 states. Massachusetts has been given a very small supply of H1N1 and most vaccines are being delivered to the Boston hospitals and surrounding clinics.

The yields of H1N1 vaccine are increasing steadily. Although the US only produced 38 million doses to their goal of 40 million last week, they recently have been given resources to help production go faster while still maintaining their safety regulations.