For the 2023-2024 influenza season, the Department of Health will be offering a Universal Seasonal Influenza Program at no cost to New Brunswick (NB) residents. Pharmacists who have completed training and have been authorized by the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists to administer injections may administer the publicly funded seasonal influenza vaccine to those 2 years of age and older between October 1st and July 31st .
Public Health Plan – Publicly Funded Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (2023-2024)
Eligible Benefits
The seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine for 2023-2024, as per the recommendations by the World Health Organization for northern hemisphere, contains:
- an A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Please be advised that for 2023-2024 the following publicly funded influenza vaccine produces can be given to those 2 years to 64 years of age:
For the 2023-2024 influenza season, FluMist Nasal Spray Influenza Vaccine is available as an alternative to the traditional needle-based influenza vaccine.This vaccine is available for people aged 2 to 17 and is designed for children who have a fear of needles.
Please be advised that for 2023-2024, Fluzone® High-Dose (Sanofi) is publicly funded for everyone 65 years and older:
Flulaval® Tetra and Fluzone® Quadrivalent are supplied in 10 dose vials. Fluzone® Quadrivalent pre-filled syringes are also available in limited quantities. Fluzone® High-Dose is supplied in pre-filled syringes. FluMist Quadrivalent is supplied in pre-filled sprayer and is available as a package of 10.
Eligible Immunizers
Pharmacists who are authorized to administer injections can provide vaccine to all New Brunswick residents 2 years of age and older. In NB, pharmacists are recognized as authorized prescribers, and do not require a directive to administer vaccines. 2
The pharmacist may employ a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, pharmacy technician or paramedic to administer the publicly funded seasonal influenza vaccine; however, the following conditions must be met:
- the pharmacist must provide a directive to the immunizers they hire. A copy of this directive must be kept by the pharmacist/pharmacy manager.
- the immunizer is licensed and authorized to practice by their applicable association;
- Immunizers who are hired and are billing under a pharmacist cannot administer and bill for children under 2 years of age.
- • the immunizer must demonstrate proof that they are competent in providing immunization – as per the NB Immunization Program Guidelines- Policy 2.4: Immunization Competency Standards for all Immunization Providers and as per NANB Practice Standards (confirming competency verbally with the nurse and documenting that as part of the employment record is sufficient).
In addition to the information normally documented and retained for influenza immunization, pharmacists must retain accurate internal records that identify the immunizer (including the license number) who administered the vaccine to each patient. This internal record can be kept as a hard copy (paper) or electronically. For more information, please refer to the following links:
Vaccine records
Requirement for Submitting Influenza Vaccine Administration to Medicare
As per the Public Health Act, all immunizers of publicly funded vaccines must document the immunization within one week of administration and provide the patient a copy of the immunization records. To meet this requirement, pharmacists participating in delivery of vaccines program need to enter vaccine into the Drug Information System (DIS). The DIS sends this immunization information directly to the Public Health Information Solution (PHIS). It is important to ensure that the vaccine information is accurate as this becomes a client’s official immunization record in the immunization registry.
In addition, this data is necessary to accurately inform the Minister and New Brunswick population of the progress of the influenza campaign in a timely manner. This will be monitored to ensure participants are providing the required data in the specified time. We appreciate and thank you for your collaboration in the influenza campaign.
Claim Submission
The seasonal influenza vaccine must be administered to qualifying residents between October 1st and July 31st to be eligible. A patient profile should be set up as for any client and must include the vaccine recipient's name and address, Medicare number, date of birth and gender, date the vaccine was administered and the name and lot number of the vaccine.
Manual claims will not be accepted. Claims must be submitted online and include the following information:
| Field | Information Required |
| Carrier ID | NB |
| Group Number or Code | I (Note: this also applies to New Brunswick Drug Plans beneficiaries.) |
| Client ID | Patient’s NB Medicare number. (Note: this also applies to New Brunswick Drug Plans beneficiaries.) For individuals from out of province, temporarily residing in New Brunswick and who have not been issued a NB Medicare number, enter “999 999 999” in place of the Medicare number. Note: If there is a requirement for a pharmacy to submit more than one claim on the same day for the same DIN under this pseudo Medicare number, subsequent claims must be submitted with Intervention Code “MG”. |
| Patient Code | Leave Blank |
| Patient Name | Patient’s first and last name |
| Patient DOB | Patient’s date of birth |
| Prescriber ID | New Brunswick College of Pharmacists Licence Number of the pharmacist administering the vaccine. Note: If there is a requirement for a registered nurse/physician/nurse practitioner to administer the vaccine on behalf of the pharmacist, claims must be submitted with New Brunswick College of Pharmacists Licence Number of the pharmacist. |
| Prescriber ID Reference Code | 46 |
| DIN / PIN |
FluLaval™Tetra multi dose vial, DIN: 02420783
|
| Quantity | 1 |
| Days Supply | 1 |
| Drug Cost / Product Value | Zero |
| Cost Upcharge | Zero |
| Professional Fee |
$13.00 |
Note: Regulation 2009-136, section 14 under the Public Health Act requires that those who administer a vaccine provide the recipient with a record of the immunization. A computer generated-prescription receipt would satisfy this requirement.
Questions regarding claim submissions may be directed to the NB Drug Plans.
Information for Pharmacies
Ordering Process
Distribution of influenza vaccine is expected to begin in early October with administration to start mid-October. The launch date for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Program will be announced once vaccine delivery to the province is confirmed. , New Brunswick receives a percentage of the overall influenza vaccine order for the season in four or more shipments over several weeks, so you will not receive 100% of your vaccine order in the beginning.
Influenza vaccine orders should be placed as per below. Distribution will follow McKesson’s regular delivery schedule (used for COVID vaccine) which is a specific day on a weekly basis. Please plan your clinics accordingly to ensure you have a confirmed date of delivery before you schedule appointments.
Influenza Vaccine Ordering process |
|
Immunization provider |
Where to order influenza vaccine |
Hospital pharmacies for administration to inpatients and staff (excluding hospital sub-depots), |
Hospital pharmacies send orders to Central Serum Depot who will enter the order in the PHIS through Product Requisition. |
The product is distributed from McKesson to Hospital pharmacies. |
|
Community Pharmacies (including sub-depot pharmacies for their own supply)
NOTE: Community pharmacies who are also Vaccine Sub Depots submit orders to the vaccine command center for vaccine to be administered by their own community pharmacy. |
Community Pharmacies submit orders to the Vaccine Operations Center. |
Matrix distributes to Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws pharmacies. |
|
| McKesson distributes to all other community pharmacies. | |
Community Pharmacy Sub-depots enter orders directly into PHIS through Product Requisition. The product is distributed from McKesson to sub-depots.
Product Information for Pharmacies:
Supplier |
Product name |
DIN |
Sanofi Pasteur |
Fluzone (Multidose vial) |
02432730 |
Sanofi Pasteur |
Fluzone (Prefilled syringe) |
02420643 |
Sanofi Pasteur |
Fluzone High Dose |
02500523 |
GSK |
FluLaval Tetra (Multidose vial) |
02420783 |
| AstraZeneca | FluMist (single dose intranasal) | 02426544 |
Please note: it is important for pharmacies to ensure they have adequate storage capacity and conditions for the vaccine prior to submitting an order.
Pharmacy Audits
- Payments made for fees that do not comply with this policy are subject to audit and recovery
Web page last updated: August 30, 2023