Policies and Procedures: Vaccine Loss Due to Disaster

The information below summarizes the policies and processes of vaccine manufacturers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccines for Children Program related to vaccine loss due to a natural disaster in the US and/or Puerto Rico. Pediatricians are encouraged to hold on to any vaccine product, not to throw it away or destroy it, and to submit an insurance claim as a first step. Private vaccine manufacturers need to see that a product is not covered under insurance before providing a credit or replacing it. Private vaccine manufacturers will usually offer a partial or full credit for vaccines lost by hurricanes for offices that meet certain conditions, but any questions should be directed to the manufacturers.

Merck

Merck offers a Disaster Relief Returns Program. Information can be accessed here. Additionally, customers can call the Merck Vaccine Customer Center at 877.VAX.MERCK to speak to a company representative for further guidance. This guidance applies for customers in the US and Puerto Rico.

Pfizer

Pfizer has a policy in place in the event of a natural disaster. Circumstances will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Providers can contact Pfizer Customer Service at 1-800-666-7248 to review specific circumstances. We ask that providers contact Pfizer at their earliest convenience. This guidance applies for customers in the US and Puerto Rico. If vaccines have completely washed away, a provider can still work with customer service to find a solution. If a provider needs to wait until cell phone coverage is reinstated, that is fine. The Pfizer policy does not have a short-term expiration so Pfizer will work with those impacted even if they call a couple of weeks after a disaster event.

Sanofi Pasteur

Sanofi Pasteur has a policy related to natural disasters and hazardous events. If a provider purchased a vaccine directly through Sanofi, the provider should contact 1-800-VACCINE, and a customer service representative can help them through the process. Providers have multiple options available to them to recoup costs related to lost vaccines and maximize returns. Providers who hold onto a vaccine product and return it once expired or opt to return a vaccine product prior to the expiration date will receive a 100% credit. If a vaccine product has been lost completely and is therefore unreturnable, a provider can document this in a written communication to Sanofi. If a provider purchased a vaccine indirectly through a wholesaler/distributor or received vaccine via CDC's Vaccine For Children program distribution channels, please reach out to that respective source.

GSK

To help support customers, GSK has a FEMA Declared Natural Disaster Policy. This policy is designed to help customers regarding appropriate product replacement in the event of damage.

In the event any AAP member has experienced damaged product due to a product excursion and is included in an area defined as a FEMA declared disaster, GSK will provide replacement product under GSK’s Natural Disaster Policy:

AAP members may call the GSK Channel Service Centers directly. For Pharma, ViiV and Specialty medicines, please call 800-877-1158, option 4. For Vaccines, please call 866-475-8222, option 3. AAP members first will need to file a claim with their insurance provider and be denied coverage. AAP members can then provide the denial letter to GSK as part of their claim submission. Following a claim submission, a Channel Service Center Representative will follow up with the member directly within 48 hours regarding the status of the claim.

This process applies to the US and Puerto Rico. GSK recommends that a provider hold on to the product if able, but this is not required. GSK changed its policy recently since product could be washed away in a flood.

Vaccines for Children Program

Pediatricians are encouraged to contact their state immunization program. A list of Immunization Program Manager contacts can be found here.