Health care providers can register online for H1N1 influenza vaccines

Health care providers may now pre-register online if they are interested in receiving pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccines and supplies when those materials become available, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said today.

The Department of Health is offering pre-registration to providers including hospitals, clinics, pharmacists, schools and community vaccinators.

Pre-registered providers will receive e-mail updates about the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccination program including a vaccine provider agreement and ordering instructions, as well as important information to help prepare their facility to store, handle and administer the vaccine properly. Only providers that ultimately place orders and meet the conditions of the provider agreement will receive the vaccine.

Because the federal pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccination program is still under development, the state Department of Health can not guarantee that vaccine will be supplied to all pre-registered providers or the timing or size of the shipments. Needles, syringes, syringe containers and alcohol swabs will also be provided with the vaccine.

The department estimates the first shipment of vaccine will occur in October. Interested health care providers should pre-register in the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System, or PA-SIIS, by going to www.health.state.pa.us/pasiis and selecting "Online Registration Request." Contact the PA-SIIS Help Desk at 1-877-774-4748 for assistance with the registration process.

Current PA-SIIS healthcare providers will automatically be pre-registered for the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine. A survey will be e-mailed to them for additional information.