County Vaccine Distributions
California is building a statewide vaccine network to ensure the equitable delivery of current and anticipated supply to Californians. The state has entered into a cost-basis contract with Blue Shield of California (Blue Shield) to serve as the third party administrator (TPA) for the statewide vaccine network. To receive a vaccine allocation, you must sign the TPA agreement and enroll in My Turn Clinic.
The California Vaccinate All 58 website breaks down steps to participation, including how to transition to My Turn. If you are interested in joining the California State COVID-19 Vaccine Program for the first time, view the steps to participation for new providers. If you are already distributing the vaccine and need to transition from myCAVax to My Turn, view the steps for TPA network participation.
Common questions about vaccine distribution are answered in the following sections. You may also email the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Call Center for Providers at [email protected] or call 833-502-1245 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What are the key functions of the TPA?
The TPA, with support from Kaiser Permanente, will coordinate vaccine delivery following the state’s guidance to prioritize safety, equity and the fastest possible administration of the vaccine. Counties will provide vaccine supplies to their own clinics, while all other vaccine providers must contract with TPA (Blue Shield). Local public health departments will continue to play a key role as vaccine providers and continue to advise and coordinate with the state on the statewide vaccine network.
How are vaccines being distributed?
Previously, local health departments were distributing and allocating vaccines to providers based on the myCAVax ordering system. For now, local health departments will keep allocating vaccine doses from a very limited supply. As providers transition and are approved in the TPA network, the TPA will allocate the COVID-19 vaccine.
Moving forward, the state is using the My Turn Clinic system and allocating vaccines directly to providers to maximize distribution efficiency. The TPA will recommend vaccine allocation to the state based on data from TPA-contracted providers and information from local health departments. The state is responsible for making the final call in terms of allocations based on providers’ capacities for a two-week period.
The state will also provide real-time information about where the vaccines are being distributed and who is receiving them, ensuring vaccines are distributed to communities that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Which providers are administering vaccines?
Providers administering vaccines will include health systems, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, mass vaccination sites and mobile clinics. Blue Shield, together with onboarding partners, will identify prospective vaccine providers.
Providers must meet program requirements for data integration, equity and volume capacity. They must also meet all relevant state and federal requirements, and hold all licensing and credentialing necessary in the area where vaccines are being distributed.
For more details on vaccine distribution, please review the California COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider FAQs.
National Infant Immunization Week is April 24 – May 1, 2021
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is a yearly observance that highlights the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine preventable diseases. During these times, it is crucial that we continue to ensure children are staying on track with their well-child visits and vaccines. As a reminder, Alliance members who complete all their required vaccines (CIS-10) by their 2nd birthday are eligible for our member incentive to be entered to a raffle for a chance to win a $100 Target gift card. We want to continue to provide support to our providers by providing some immunization resources:
- CDC National Infant Immunization Week
- Talk with Parents about Vaccines for Infants
- Alliance Immunization Resource Page
