As part of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) response, USP has engaged stakeholders and convened experts to identify and address operational efficiency gaps to help increase COVID-19 vaccinations. Through this process, USP has developed a COVID-19 vaccine handling toolkit that will furnish health care practitioners with information they need to accelerate delivery and support safe handling of these vaccines while maintaining quality and the public’s trust.
The USP COVID-19 Vaccine Handling Toolkit: Operational Considerations for Healthcare Practitioners provides critical information to pharmacists, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health profession students, and others who are involved in handling COVID-19 vaccines. Available now, the first section of the toolkit, titled “Operational Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccine Preparation During the Pandemic,” provides strategies that can support health care practitioners in preparing and administering vaccines at different locations by different individuals as well as guidance on pre-drawing vaccine into syringes for efficient administration. The complete toolkit will contain sections on operational considerations for preparation and labeling; storage, handling, and transport; and waste and disposal.
The USP COVID-19 vaccine handling toolkit is developed by over 40 independent expert volunteers led by USP’s Healthcare Safety and Quality Expert Committee, with representation from several other Expert Committees that include government representatives, which enables health care practitioners to benefit from consistent, scientific-based strategies developed by independent experts that close efficiency gaps across states and territories.
The USP COVID-19 vaccine handling toolkit is rapidly evolving and will be updated frequently. For more information, including a link to download the vaccine handling toolkit and a sign-up form to receive critical toolkit updates, please visit www.usp.org/covid-vaccine-handling.
Questions about the toolkit may be emailed to HealthcareQuality@usp.org.