Last night, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) sent a memorandum of understanding (MOU) (attached) to hospitals with ultracold storage that will receive the initial doses of vaccine. Hospitals that received the notice must execute the MOU as a condition of participating in the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program. DOH will hold a webinar tomorrow to discuss the MOU and anticipated next steps in preparing for the first week of COVID-19 vaccine shipments. All hospitals are invited to participate in the Webinar regardless of whether they have ultracold storage capacity.
The webinar details are as follows:
| Date: | Thursday, December 10 |
| Time: | 4:00 p.m. |
| Webinar Link: | https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m51962eb5d6e2d411df08cbe309ba909b Session number: 178 995 7453 Session password: Welcome2 |
Signing the MOU demonstrates each hospital’s understanding that the vaccine must be administered in accordance with the Vaccination Program and prioritization guidance, and in lockstep with State directives. For the initial release of the vaccine, doses will be distributed based on hospital ultracold storage capacity, and it is imperative that facilities receiving the initial doses of vaccine await DOH instruction on when and how to administer. DOH states that information is rapidly evolving, and allocations and prioritization guidance may change.
The MOU also clarifies that hospitals should not disclose any information regarding distributions received.
The New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program document is provided as an appendix to the MOU.
Initial vaccine doses are anticipated to ship as early as next week. Hospitals should review and e-mail the executed MOU by December 11 at 1:00 p.m. to sarah.brazzell@health.ny.gov.