About
VAXELIS is a hexavalent pediatric vaccine codeveloped by Sanofi Pasteur and Merck. VAXELIS contains DTaP, IPOL, PedvaxHIB and Hepatitis B vaccines. VAXELIS is a vaccine indicated for active immunization to prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, and invasive disease due to H. influenzae type b. VAXELIS is approved for use as a 3-dose series in children 6 weeks through 4 years of age (prior to the 5th birthday). It is most often given at the 2, 4 and 6 month well visits. It is now available to order from Sanofi Pasteur’s VaccineShoppe.com. This vaccine does contain PedvaxHIB and will not need to be reconstituted.
The 3-dose immunization series consists of a 0.5 mL intramuscular injection, administered at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. A 3-dose series of VAXELIS does NOT constitute a primary immunization series against pertussis; an additional dose of pertussis-containing vaccine is needed to complete the primary series. An additional dose of DTaP needs to be given at 12 – 18 months of age.
Pricing Information
Pricing for VAXELIS will be based on how a customer chooses to use this vaccine in his/her practice. Sanofi Pasteur has offered a base price as well as a performance price for VAXELIS.
Base pricing will be available to all PCA customers. This pricing is for offices that choose to integrate VAXELIS at one or two of the 2, 4 and 6 month well visits but not for all three of those well-visits. These customers will continue using Pentacel or single entity DTaP, IPOL and HIB at the other well visits through 12 – 18 months. Offices may choose to do this for a variety of reasons. Another customer who would qualify for the base price on VAXELIS would be an office that chooses to have a few doses of VAXELIS on hand but does not routinely give VAXELIS to all of its patients at the 2, 4 and 6 month well visits. In this case, the office would use VAXELIS in situations such as when a parent insists on fewer shots for their child or for patients who have previously received VAXELIS from another office and want to continue using it.
Performance pricing will only be available to PCA customers who commit to using VAXELIS for all patients at their 2, 4 and 6 month well visits. These offices can then give Pentacel or single entity DTaP and HIB at one of the patient’s 12-18 month old well visits.
To start implementing VAXELIS into a routine vaccine schedule an office has two options:
- Start using VAXELIS at the 2 month old well visit and then continue giving it to these patients at their 4 month and 6 month well visits.
- Any patient who has already received a dose or doses of Pentacel at a previous 2 month and/or 4 month old well visit could finish the 2, 4 and 6 month visits with another dose or doses of Pentacel.
- Another option would be to immediately start using VAXELIS for all 2, 4 and 6 month visits and save any doses of Pentacel the clinic has left to give to patients during one of the 12-18 month well visits (whenever you give the fourth dose of DTaP).
Clinics interested in receiving VAXELIS Performance Pricing, need to return the VAXELIS Commitment Letter here.
How to Transition to VAXELIS from Pentacel or Pediarix
Follow this step-by-step guide to help you incorporate VAXELIS into your clinical practice.
- Decide if you are going to give VAXELIS to all private patients at the 2, 4 and 6 month well visits no matter what they were given at a previous well visit. Save any unused doses of Pentacel or single entity DTaP and IPOL to give to patients at one of the 12-18 month well visits.
- Alternatively, you can give VAXELIS to all new private patients at the 2, 4 and 6 month well visits and then continue using either Pentacel, Pediarix, or single entity DTaP, IPOL, ActHIB and Hepatitis B vaccines on preexisting patients for the remainder of their 2, 4 and 6 month well visits.
- Determine your schedule for VFC patients. VAXELIS is available to order in most states’ VFC programs. However, each state is slightly different so check with them for specific information.
- Make sure your entire care team knows the clinic is going to transition to VAXELIS.
- Familiarize yourself and the rest of your care team with the VAXELIS schedule your patients will now be following, especially as it differs from your previous schedule.
- If you need updated vaccine schedules for your office, please let us know. We are happy to provide electronic or hard copies that fit your specific office.
- Review the administration guide so that you and your care team know how to administer VAXELIS.
- Review the storage information to make sure you are prepared to store VAXELIS when your shipment arrives.
- Add CPT code 90697 to your billing system and set a fee for this code.
- Check with at least your top 5 payers and find out what they will reimburse you for CPT code 90697. Review the coding and billing information for VAXELIS and keep the information handy as your practice begins to administer VAXELIS.
- Fill out the VAXELIS Letter of Commitment and return it to PCA.
- Look over the EHR considerations below for tips that may help you transition to VAXELIS in your EHR system.
- Visit VAXELIS.com to learn more about this hexavalent vaccine and download or print any resources that may be helpful for you, your staff, or parents and guardians.
- Order or print copies of the patient product information sheets linked below.
- Ensure you have enough doses of VAXELIS for your practice. To order VAXELIS, visit VaccineShoppe.com or call 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463) to speak to a Sanofi Pasteur representative.
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Considerations
Ensure that VAXELIS is available in the electronic health record (EHR) system. It can take time for new vaccines to appear in EHR product lists. If VAXELIS is not yet available in the EHR, it can be added manually. This allows for a timelier transition to VAXELIS while maintaining accuracy in patient records.
