Requested by Marilyn Booth, Landaff Emergency Management;

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NH DHHS HEALTH ALERT

Distributed by the NH Health Alert Network
Health.Alert@nh.gov
January 15, 2021 1700 (5:00 PM EDT)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak, Update #34
Instructions for Registering Medically Vulnerable Patients for Vaccination

Key Points and Recommendations:
• The New Hampshire (NH) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) continues to distribute vaccine
under the Phase 1a vaccine allocation guidelines.
• Vaccination for Phase 1b eligible vaccine recipients will begin on January 26th through various
locations. Phase 1b includes:
o Persons who are 65 years of age or older
o Persons who are under 65 years old with defined medical conditions that put them at
significantly higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness and death
o Residents and staff of residential facilities for persons with intellectual and developmental
disabilities
o Corrections officers and staff working in correctional facilities
o First responders and health workers not already vaccinated
• Registration for NH residents in Phase 1b will begin on January 22nd at 8:00am. The registration and
scheduling process for vaccination will vary depending on the person’s prioritization criteria and
location of vaccination clinic:
o Persons 65 years of age and older should register to be vaccinated at a fixed site by visiting
https://vaccines.nh.gov. Persons without internet access should call 2-1-1 to get assistance
with registration.
o Persons under 65 years of age who are prioritized due to medical conditions need to register
through their healthcare provider to confirm eligibility and facilitate vaccination through one of
the processes outlined below. There is no requirement to retain any verification forms, but a
person’s associated medical conditions should be documented in their health record.
o Other Phase 1b individuals should also register to be vaccinated at a fixed site by visiting
https://vaccines.nh.gov (or call 2-1-1 if no internet access), through their organization (e.g.
hospital employee), or through a vaccination clinic organized by a Regional Public Health
Network (RPHN).

• For persons under the age of 65 years who require provider verification of co-morbid medical
conditions before vaccination:
o Hospital-affiliated providers that will vaccinate their own patients: The healthcare system will
register and schedule eligible patients for vaccination clinics organized through the hospital
organization. The healthcare system will report patient administration data either through
manual data entry into VAMS/VMS (third-party clinic) or use their own electronic health record
(EHR) system and upload a flat file to the NH Immunization Information System (NHIIS).

o Providers that plan to refer patients to a fixed site:
 For providers with access to VAMS/VMS: Enter patient information directly into
VAMS/VMS, which will prompt an email invitation to the patient to schedule
vaccination at a fixed site. For patients without email, follow the process below.
 For providers who do NOT have access to VAMS/VMS, or for patients that do not
have access to email: The provider should provide information to NH DPHS on
patients that meet medical eligibility and NH DPHS will schedule the patients for
vaccination. Instructions for providing patient information are as follows:
• Collect first name, last name, date of birth, phone number, email address (if
available)
• Enter information in the excel file template OR on a medical verification form
and send information to:
o Email: covidvaccinescheduling@dhhs.nh.gov
OR
o Fax: 603-271-3001
• It may take up to 5 days for the patient to receive a scheduling invitation by
phone after submission to NH DPHS.

o Persons under 65 years old without a healthcare provider should call 2-1-1 to get connected
to a healthcare provider in their area.

• Non-New Hampshire residents are NOT able to be vaccinated in New Hampshire vaccination clinics
unless that person is an employee of a business or organization in New Hampshire that is prioritized
for vaccination (i.e. healthcare worker, first responder, correctional facility staff, or working in a
residential facility for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities). Non-New Hampshire
residents should seek vaccination through their own respective state processes.
Vaccine Registration, Scheduling, and Tracking Technology
NH DPHS is using CDC’s Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) for vaccine data tracking
in Phase 1a. NH DPHS is in the process of transitioning from VAMS to the Vaccine Management System
(VMS), which will be used to register and schedule persons for fixed vaccination sites for Phase 1b and
beyond. Administered vaccine data are stored in the NH Immunization information System. All healthcare
providers receiving COVID-19 vaccine are required to report data into one of these data systems.
Additional resources and information about these systems is available here:
CDC VAMS: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/reporting/vams/index.html
NH IIS: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/immunization/nhiis.htm
NH DPHS COVID-19 Immunization Information System FAQ:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/covid-immunization-info-system-faq.pdf

NH DHHS-DPHS
NH-HAN #20210115, Update 34 – Registering Medically Vulnerable Patients for Vaccination Page 3

Key contact information:

Contact Types of Questions
2-1-1
1-866-444-4211

General questions on vaccination or to schedule vaccination if
the online system cannot be used.

covidvaccine@dhhs.nh.gov General questions from organizations on when a group is

eligible for vaccination, etc.

covidvaccinescheduling@dhhs.nh.gov

2-1-1
1-866-444-4211

Questions about the state-managed fixed site registration
process, the pre-registration form, healthcare screening
questions (non-medical support) or currently scheduled
appointments. This is staffed by non-medical personnel that
can assist with the registration process.

nhiis.support@dhhs.nh.gov

VAMS, VMS, Vaccine Finder, NH Immunization Information
System and other electronic documentation questions for
healthcare providers

For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation please refer to the NH COVID-19
Vaccination Planning webpage.

NH DHHS-DPHS
NH-HAN #20210115, Update 34 – Registering Medically Vulnerable Patients for Vaccination Page 4

• For any questions regarding this notification, please call the NH DHHS, DPHS, Bureau of
Infectious Disease Control at (603) 271-4496 during business hours (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
• If you are calling after hours or on the weekend, please call the New Hampshire Hospital
switchboard at (603) 271-5300 and request the Public Health Professional on-call.
• To change your contact information in the NH Health Alert Network, please send an email to
DHHS.Health.Alert@dhhs.nh.gov.
Status: Actual
Message Type: Alert
Severity: Moderate
Sensitivity: Not Sensitive
Message Identifier: NH-HAN 20210115 COVID-19, Update 34
Delivery Time: 12 hours
Acknowledgement: No
Distribution Method: Email, Fax
Distributed to: Physicians, Physician Assistants, Practice Managers, Infection Control

Practitioners, Infectious Disease Specialists, Community Health Centers, Hospitals,
Hospital CEOs, Hospital Emergency Departments, EMS, Nurses, NHHA,
Pharmacists, Laboratory Response Network, Manchester Health Department,
Nashua Health Department, Public Health Networks, DHHS Outbreak Team,
DPHS Investigation Team, DPHS Management Team, Northeast State
Epidemiologists, Zoonotic Alert Team, Health Officers, Deputy Health Officers,
MRC, NH Schools, EWIDS, Dialysis & Transplant Clinics, STD Clinics,
Immunization Practices, Travel Centers, Influenza Sentinels, Urgent Care Centers,
Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Walk-in Clinics, Poison Center, Alcohol and Other
Drug Treatment Centers, Long-Term Care Facilities, Community Mental Health
Centers, Health Departments, Internal Medicine, Occupational Health,
Gastroenterology, Schools and Daycare Providers, Regional Public Health
Networks, Environmental Services, Family Planning Programs, Department of
Corrections, Home Care Providers, Local and State Partners, Area Agencies
From: Elizabeth R. Daly, DrPH, MPH, Chief, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control
Originating Agency: NH Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health

Services

Attachments:
COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Verification Form
20210115_PCP Referral_1B Vaccination