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VFC Vaccine Accountability Questions and Answers

Note: Consult the VFC Operations Guide for questions not answered on this page.

Questions on this Page

On page 4 of the Accountability Module of the VFC Operations Guide (January 2011), there is a new requirement to monitor and report the volume of publicly purchased vaccine lost/wasted* due to expiration and/or improper storage and handling practices. Should grantees include unaccounted for public vaccine in the calculations?
Should grantees include unused influenza doses that are returned at the end of the flu season as expired for CDC reporting purposes?

Questions and Answers

Q: On page 4 of the Accountability Module of the VFC Operations Guide (January 2011), there is a new requirement to monitor and report the volume of publicly purchased vaccine lost/wasted* due to expiration and/or improper storage and handling practices. Should grantees include unaccounted for public vaccine in the calculations?

Q&A added Feb 2011

A: No, the calculations should be based on only the volume of vaccine that can be confirmed as expired or lost/wasted* due to improper storage and handling practices. Unaccounted for public vaccine is defined as vaccine that’s existence/status cannot be determined at this time. *For the purposes of the VFC program, VFC Operations Guide Module 8 and this document, lost/wasted vaccine is defined as the loss of vaccine because of spoilage, waste or expiration due to improper storage and handling practices.

Q: Should grantees include unused influenza doses that are returned at the end of the flu season as expired for CDC reporting purposes?

Q&A added Feb 2011

A: No, influenza vaccine that is returned at the end of the flu season because of lack of demand should not be included in the calculations for reporting of expired or lost due to improper storage or handling. Influenza vaccine lost during the flu season due to improper storage or handling should be included in the calculations.