Healthcare Professional Standard & Mobile Clinic User Manual

Purpose

VAMS is a web-based application that supports planning and execution for COVID-19 vaccination clinics and medical practices that do not have systems to record vaccinations. Allows public health jurisdictions, registration, healthcare providers and organizations to provide end-to-end vaccination services and manage vaccination clinics.

Your Role and Activities in VAMS

As a Healthcare Professional (HP), you will use VAMS to:

  • Manage the vaccine administration process for recipients,
  • Cancel recipient appointments,
  • Review recipient information,
  • Log vaccination, and
  • View dates when recipients are eligible to receive their second dose of vaccine (if applicable)

Your role in VAMS is critical to making sure recipient vaccinations are successful. The VAMS Role and Activity Matrix below shows VAMS activities by role, including the activities that only you, as an HP, can perform in VAMS and some that you share with other users.

VAMS Role and Activity Matrix

Activities in VAMS Healthcare Professional Clinic Administrator Inventory Manager (optional) Front Desk
Serve as the clinic point of contact (POC) for your jurisdiction (Typically, the clinic administrator serves as the clinic POC.). checkmark image
Manage clinic information (e.g., physical address). checkmark image
Set and manage clinic schedule. checkmark image
Manage (add, edit, and remove) VAMS clinic users. checkmark image
Manage clinic vaccine inventory. checkmark image checkmark image
View and export Inventory Vaccine Level report. checkmark image
Check in recipients. checkmark image
Create walk-in recipient appointments. checkmark image
Cancel recipient appointments. checkmark image checkmark image
Confirm recipient identity. checkmark image checkmark image
Add and edit recipients in VAMS. checkmark image
Edit only
checkmark image
Access and review vaccine recipient records (e.g., name, date of birth [DOB], Prevaccination Questionnaire or Pretesting Questionnaire responses); add notes to records. checkmark image
Administer and log vaccination (vaccine information, outcome, and waste if applicable) or administer and log COVID-19 test. checkmark image
Search for, edit, and invalidate recipient records. checkmark image
View vaccine recipient next-dose eligibility date(s) (if applicable). checkmark image

Other role-specific user manuals are available within "Resources for Jurisdictions, Clinics and Organizations ". If you have questions about specific tasks in VAMS that are relevant to your role or other roles at your clinic, quick reference guides are also available on this page.

Clinic Types in VAMS

In VAMS, clinics are assigned to a Clinic Type (e.g., Standard, Mobile, Third-Party, etc.)

Clinics are then further assigned to one of seven Clinic Service types. These Clinic Services include:

  • Vaccinations
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Scheduling
  • School-Located Vaccinations
  • Field-Located Vaccinations
  • Vaccines for Children
  • Other

NOTE: If the Clinic is set up as a Third-Party Clinic, the only Clinic Services available for selection will be Vaccinations, COVID-19 Testing, and Scheduling.

To learn more about the different Clinic Services and Clinic Types within VAMS, visit the Quick Reference Guide for Clinic Types.

Getting Started in VAMS

Activate Your User Account

You must activate an account in VAMS to use the system. After your clinic administrator enters your name and email address in VAMS, you will receive an email with a VAMS registration link.

Visit "Getting Started in VAMS" for directions on how to create an account in VAMS. If you need additional support for your role or have questions about creating an account, registering for VAMS, or accessing VAMS, this page has answers to common questions.

After creating your account, you will be immediately taken to the Clinic Portal home page in VAMS, where you will see a Recipient Management table.

View and Manage Scheduled Appointments

As the clinic's HP, you have the ability to view the clinic's scheduled appointments and cancel recipient appointments, if needed. Review the information below to familiarize yourself with how to view appointments and cancel them.

View Scheduled Appointments

  • Once you access the Clinic Portal, the Recipient Management tab page will be your default home page and the page where you can view checked-in appointments at your clinic.
    • NOTE: You can also navigate to the Recipient Details page by clicking on a Recipient's Hyperlinked Name in the Recipient Management tab.
  • Expanding the Drop-Down menu in the Recipient Management table header will provide you with three list views that filter recipients listed in the table:
    • Today's Checked-In Appointments view will display your clinic's appointments scheduled that day and is the default view.
    • Prior Checked-in Appointments view will display all checked-in recipients, including that day's and prior appointments.
    • Today's Completed Appointments view will display your clinic's appointments that have been completed that day.
    • Specimen Collected view will display all completed COVID-19 testing appointments (this is only available at testing clinics).
  • You can sort appointment data in the table by clicking the Arrows in the column headers, such as scheduled appointment start date/time, name, DOB, gender, and email address. You may also sort by the following columns:
    • Observation (vaccination clinics only) – will indicate if the recipient has reported information in the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire that is important to review prior to vaccination.
    • Vaccine name (vaccination clinics only) – if the recipient has received a dose, this column will indicate which vaccine they received previously.
    • Source (vaccination clinics only) – if the recipient has received a dose, this column will indicate if the dose was received at a clinic that does or does not use VAMS (e.g., VAMS, non-VAMS).
    • Test Type (testing clinics only) – will indicate which test type the recipient is scheduled to receive (e.g., Diagnostic Lab Test – PCR [Molecular-PCR SARS-CoV2], Rapid Diagnostic Test [IDNow Rapid COVID-19 PCR], Rapid Antigen Test [BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Antigen], or COVID-19 Antibody [SST]).
  • You can also search for appointments by entering the Recipient's Name or Email Address in the search bar at the top right of the appointments table. Note that you can search the recipient's full name or just the beginning of their name. For example, you can find the appointment for a recipient named William Smith by searching for "Will."
  • Standard and mobile clinic users can see a list view of Today's Completed Appointments. This list view can be found in the Recipient Management tab. The list will display completed vaccination appointment details, including scheduled start, recipient name, date of birth, gender, email, dose (vaccination clinics only), vaccine name (vaccination clinics only), observation (vaccination clinics only), test type (testing clinics only), and healthcare professional who administered the vaccine or test.

Cancel Appointments

  • From the Recipient Management tab, next to the recipient appointment you want to cancel, click Cancel in the Cancel Appointment column.
    • A screen with the appointment details will appear.
  • Select a Cancellation Reason from the drop-down menu.
  • Click Cancel Appointment to cancel the appointment. Click Keep Appointment if you no longer want to cancel the appointment.
  • After clicking Cancel Appointment, a cancellation confirmation message will appear. Click OK to return to the Clinic Portal home page.

Recipient Appointments: Frequently Asked Questions

Healthcare professionals can cancel and modify recipient appointments. To cancel an appointment, click Cancel in the Cancel Appointment column next to the recipient appointment you want to cancel. To modify an appointment, click the applicable recipient’s name on the Recipient Management tab. In the Vaccine Selection and Appointment Selection sections of the Recipient Details screen (for vaccination clinics) or COVID-19: Testing Type & Log Specimen section (for testing clinics), you can click Edit and change the vaccines, doses, or test type you want to administer as part of this appointment.

After an appointment is cancelled, the recipient can schedule a new appointment.

Vaccine Administration

This section contains three steps you'll follow to log vaccine administration in VAMS, as well as other actions to log vaccinations in VAMS.

Click on the buttons below to go to the corresponding sections in this user manual.

Step 1: Access the Recipient's Record

You will need:

  • Recipient's name or email address

The first step in vaccine administration is accessing the recipient's record. To access a recipient's record, you must locate their appointment in VAMS.

  • On the Recipient Management tab, clicking the Drop-Down Arrow in the Recipient Management table header will provide you with different ways to view recipients. Choose one of the following options.
    • Today's Checked-In Appointments view will display your clinic's appointments scheduled that day.
    • Prior Checked-in Appointments view will display all checked-in recipients, including that day's and prior appointments.
    • Today's Completed Appointments view will display your clinic's appointments that have been completed that day.
  • You can sort appointment data in the table by clicking the Arrows in the column headers.
  • You can also search for appointments by entering the Recipient's Name, Email Address, or Phone Number in the search bar at the top right of the appointments table. Note that you can search the recipient's full name or just the beginning of their name. For example, you can find the appointment for a recipient named William Smith by searching for "Will."
  • To access the recipient's record, click the Recipient's Name.

Step 2: Review the Recipient’s Record

You will review: You may need to:
  • Recipient information (e.g., recipient’s name, age, gender)
  • Vaccine selection
  • Appointment Selection
  • Next dose (if applicable)
  • Notes (if applicable)
  • Alerts
  • Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire
  • Recipient details
  • Vaccine administration
  • Complete the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire on behalf of the recipient

Reviewing a recipient's record is a crucial step in deciding whether to administer the vaccine.

  1. Recipient Information: At the top of the recipient record you will find basic recipient information (e.g., name, birth date, and sex).
  2. Vaccine Selection: This section details the vaccine(s) originally scheduled for this appointment. Here, you can select additional vaccines for the appointment and/or deselect vaccines as necessary.
  3. Notes: In the Notes section of the record, you can log information about the recipient that may be helpful to another HP in the future (e.g., recipient is nervous about needles).
    • To log a note, click New Note in the upper right corner of the page. A pop-up window will appear where you can add your note. Click Save.
    A note about the Notes section:
    • The name of the HP who created the note will be linked to the note.
    • If a recipient has a follow-up appointment with another HP at your clinic, notes will be visible to the HP.
    • If a recipient has a follow-up appointment at another clinic, notes will be visible to the HP at that clinic.
    • You can delete a note you have created by clicking the Drop-Down arrow next to the note in this table, then clicking Delete.
  4. Alerts (if applicable): Below the Notes section, alerts will appear if the recipient has reported information in their Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire that is important to review prior to vaccination or if they have not yet completed the questionnaire. If the recipient has not reported anything of note and has completed their Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire, no alert will be present.
  5. Prior to administering the vaccine, you will be presented with three tabs of information for review, which contain the Pre-Vaccination QuestionnaireRecipient Details and the Vaccine Administration record.
    • Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire: Information relevant to today’s appointment such as allergies, current medical treatment, recipient’s health status today, etc.
      • NOTE: If the recipient has not yet completed their Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire, you will see a note here telling you the questionnaire is not complete and giving you options for recording the questionnaire. See the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire section below for more information.
    • Recipient Details: Name, sex, VAMS System ID, mailing address, race and ethnicity, preferred method of communication (if provided), etc.
    • Vaccine Administration: Record of vaccinations administered in VAMS, Log Vaccination button, and View IIS Immunization Records button, if applicable (if your jurisdiction has opted into the IIS Querying Functionality, you will have the ability to trigger a query from the IIS to retrieve a live IIS immunization record and forecast for a recipient).
    • NOTE: If at an SLV/VFC Clinic, you will be presented with a fourth tab—Deemed Consent. For more information, visit the Clinic User SLV/VFC Quick Reference Guide.

Vaccine Recipient Records: Frequently Asked Questions

Only healthcare professionals with access to the Recipient Record can view notes in a patient’s record. This includes other healthcare professionals at your clinic with whom the recipient has a follow-up appointment and healthcare professionals at any other clinic where the recipient has an appointment.

No, healthcare professionals can only view recipient information once the recipient is checked in or if the recipient has received a vaccination previously in VAMS.

Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire

If the recipient has not yet completed their Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire, you can walk them through the questions and answer the questionnaire with them or confirm that the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire was completed outside of VAMS.

  • In the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire tab in the recipient record, click Start Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire in VAMS. If the recipient completed the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire outside of VAMS, click Record that Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire was Completed Outside of VAMS instead.
  • Discuss the questions with the recipient andinput their answersfor each question. If applicable, check the box next to Answer 'No' to All Questions to answer "no" to all questions in the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire.
  • Confirm they have received the EUA Fact Sheet(s) for Recipients and Caregivers and that they have received a copy of the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
  • Click Submit.
  • You will then return to the recipient record, where you will receive confirmation of the completed Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire.

NOTE: As a healthcare professional you will be able to click Edit Responses to revise previously completed Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire responses. Healthcare professionals will also be able to complete a new Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire if a previous Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire was logged outside of VAMS. After completing their edits, healthcare professionals can click Submit to accept changes and return to the recipient record or click Cancel to revert changes and return to the recipient record.

Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire: Frequently Asked Questions

No, the questions on the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire are based on the CDC Pre-vaccination Checklist for COVID-19 Vaccines. which is based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s EUA (emergency use authorization) and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP). If you need to include additional questions, you will have to manage that process outside of VAMS.

Yes, the clinic healthcare professional can complete the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire with the recipient during their appointment.

Query Recipient Immunization Records from the IIS (If Applicable)

NOTE: Your jurisdiction will need to be opted into the IIS Querying Functionality in order to have access to the View IIS Immunization Records button under the Vaccine Administration tab.

  • Navigate to the Vaccine Administration tab and click the View IIS Immunization Records button. This will trigger VAMS to query the jurisdiction IIS for any immunization records and forecast data that may be available in the IIS for the chosen recipient.
    • If a match is found in the IIS for your chosen recipient, you will see a Recipient Demographic Information section. Review the demographic information to ensure that the record matches your recipient.
      • If multiple matches are found during the query, VAMS will inform you that multiple matches were found for the recipient. You can update the recipient’s information in VAMS and re-query, for a more accurate IIS response.
      • If there is no match found for your recipient during the query, VAMS will inform you that the patient record was not found, and it will direct you to contact your local jurisdiction immunization registry.
      • If the chosen recipient has opted out from the IIS sharing their data with other providers, VAMS will notify you as such.
    • The IIS Immunization Records section then provides a table list of the recipient’s IIS immunization record, with columns for Date Administered, Vaccine Type, Vaccine Product, Manufacturer, Dose Number, Lot Number, and Clinic Name.
    • The IIS Recommended Immunizations section then provides a table list of the recipient’s immunization forecast data (upcoming vaccines recommended for the recipient) based on immunization data stored for the recipient in the IIS. The table includes columns for Vaccine Type, Earliest Date (that a recipient can receive the vaccine), Recommended Date (for the recipient to receive the vaccine), and Past Due (for any vaccines that are past due for the recipient).
    • All data queried from the IIS is read-only (cannot be edited), and it shows up exactly as it was pulled from the IIS (VAMS does not censor or modify any data). This data is not stored in VAMS—it only appears each time the system queries the IIS.

You can now advance to Step 3: Log Vaccination, but you should be prepared to review the recipient's medical information and Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire answers prior to administering vaccine to confirm they are eligible to receive a vaccine.

Step 3: Log Vaccination

You will Need:

  • The vaccine vial's unit of use (UoU) information

NOTE: If you as a healthcare professional try to exit the log vaccination flow early, you will be alerted and asked if you would like to cancel vaccine administration or continue. If you cancel the administration, no data are saved in the system, including vaccine administration date, inventory recorded, or inventory wastage.

Log Vaccine Information

  • On the recipient record, ensure the vaccine selection and appointment selection are correct.
  • Click Edit to modify the selection of vaccines you want to administer as part of this appointment. Select additional vaccines and/or deselect vaccines as necessary. Click Save to update the selection or Cancel to revert to the original selection. On the Vaccine Administration tab in the recipient record, click Log Vaccination. On the Enter Vaccination Details page, respond to the question shown on the screen.
    • If you answer No, the recipient is ineligible for vaccination at this time. You will be taken to a screen that says, “Because the vaccine was not able to be administered, a reschedule prompt has been sent to the recipient’s email.”
      • Select a reason for the unsuccessful administration from the drop-down menu and click Log Vaccination Attempt.
    • If you answer Yes, additional fields will appear for you to enter vaccine details.
  • If there isn’t a record of the recipient completing the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire, the system will ask if the questionnaire was completed on a physical form or a system external to Answer Yes or No.
    • If you answer Yes, you can proceed to enter vaccine details.
    • If you answer No, you will be taken to a page where you can select one of the following ways to proceed:
      • Start Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire in VAMS
        • This option allows the recipient to complete the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire on a device provided by the Healthcare Professional.
      • Record the Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire Was Completed Outside of VAMS
        • This option allows the Healthcare Professional to record that the recipient completed a Pre-Vaccination Questionnaire in a physical form for the appointment.

Enter Vaccination Details

  • NOTE: If the recipient has been scheduled for a multi-vaccine appointment, you can click Skip on any vaccine that did not end up being administered to the recipient during the appointment, for any reason.
    • Clicking Skip will take you to the next vaccine in the appointment, where you can proceed with remaining vaccines, if applicable.
    • Any vaccines indicated as “Skipped” will not show up on the Review Vaccination Details screen, and no records will be kept for those vaccines.
  • For SLV/VFC Clinics:
    • Select a Funding Source from the drop-down menu.
      • NOTE: The drop-down selections for the Vaccine TypeManufacturer, and Product fields will only display values that match the funding source selection. Healthcare Professionals will only be able to log funded vaccine products for vaccine recipients who are eligible for the same funding source.
    • Select the recipient’s Funding Eligibility from the drop-down menu.
  • Select the Manufacturer from the drop-down menu.
    NOTE: Based on vaccine inventory data already logged in the system, the drop-down selections for the next two fields will be dependent upon the manufacturer you selected.
  • Select a Product from the drop-down menu.
  • Select a UoU (vial) Lot Number.
  • The expiration date will prepopulate and cannot be edited.

Logging Vaccinations: Frequently Asked Questions

No, there are no electronic signatures in VAMS.

No, only users with the healthcare professional role can enter vaccination administration data.

Any individual with the healthcare professional role in VAMS can access a recipient’s record and log a vaccination event at their clinic. However, the healthcare professional who logs the vaccination will be the healthcare professional of record in all data reporting. A healthcare professional cannot assign a vaccination they log to another healthcare professional.

Select Vaccination Site, Date, and Time

  • Once you've administered vaccine, under the Vaccine Details drop-down menus, there are fields to select the vaccine administration site (e.g., left deltoid) and fields to enter the vaccination date and vaccination time. NOTE: The Vaccination Date will default to the day and time of entry, but you can backdate a vaccination event by selecting a previous date and time.
  • Select the Vaccination Administration Site.
  • Select the Vaccination Administration Date.
  • Select the Vaccination Administration Time.
  • Indicate if any inventory was wasted during the appointment.
    • If you select Yes, you will see additional fields to detail the inventory that was wasted (e.g., vial, reason, number of doses wasted).
    • If you select No, you will not see additional fields relating to wasted inventory.
  • After logging wasted inventory (if necessary), click Log Vaccine in the bottom right of the screen.
    • NOTE: If the recipient was scheduled for a co-administration appointment, there will be another section to enter vaccination details for the additional vaccination.
  • Review the vaccination details you entered on the previous page. If everything is correct, click Submit in the bottom right corner of the page.

Tell the Recipient When They Can Get Their Next Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine (if applicable)

After clicking Submit on the final screen of the log vaccination flow, a new window appears notifying you when the recipient is eligible to receive their next dose of COVID-19 vaccine, if required for the vaccine product received.

  • The vaccine data entered in the system determine the date the recipient is eligible to receive their next dose and will not allow the recipient to book an appointment before that date.
  • If the recipient provided contact information, VAMS willsend a notification to the recipient that includes the date they are eligible to receive their next dose along with a link to schedule their next appointment on or after that date.
  • Inform the recipient they can access their vaccination certificate from the Recipient Portal. You can also view the vaccination certificate by clicking the hyperlinked text on the confirmation page, by accessing the recipient record, or by downloading the certificate as a PDF.
  • If no further doses are required, the pop-up window states all COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered.
  • Click Back to Portal to return to the home page.

NOTE: VAMS will only send next-dose eligibility date notification to recipients receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.

Backdating Vaccination Events

  • If you are not able to log vaccine administration at the time of vaccination (e.g., due to loss of internet connectivity), you can use the vaccination date and time fields to backdate vaccinations. VAMS will identify the individual who logs the vaccine in VAMS as the same person who also administered the vaccine. If you want to log a past vaccination on behalf of another healthcare professional, the next section will give you detailed instructions on how to do so.
  • You cannot use these fields to log future dates.

NOTE: If you are logging multiple past vaccination events for one recipient, you must log the patient's first dose of vaccine received before entering the second dose of vaccine.

Data Entry in VAMS: Frequently Asked Questions

VAMS sends vaccination event data back to each jurisdiction’s immunization information systems (IIS) for aggregation. There is no direct connection between VAMS and clinic EHRs. Clinic administrators should coordinate with their jurisdiction IIS for retrieving or capturing these data in a clinic EHR system.

Users should report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). More information can be found at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html.

Record Past Vaccination(s)

You will need:

  • Name or email address of the healthcare professional who administered the vaccination(s)
  • Recipient's name
  • Vaccine manufacturer, product, and UoU (vaccine vial) information; vaccination site, date/time of administration

QUICK TIP: In addition to logging your own vaccinations, you can use VAMS to log vaccinations on behalf of other healthcare professionals at your clinic.

  • On the Recipient Managementtab, select Record Past Vaccination(s) in the top right corner of the screen.
  • Select Record Individually Within VAMS and click Record Past Vaccinations
  • Search for the Healthcare Professional who administered the vaccine by entering their Name or Email A
    • Once you start typing, relevant Healthcare Professionals will populate below the search bar.
    • This can be your own email address if you are recording for yourself.
  • Once you've found the correct Healthcare Professional, select their Name/Email Address, click Search, then click Record Vaccination(s) to access the Choose Recipient and Enter Vaccination Details
  • Search for the name of the recipient who received vaccine. When the name populates in the drop-down list,select the Name.
    • Reminder: in order to record a past vaccination for a recipient, that recipient must be checked in at your clinic. The recipient will not appear in the Choose Recipient page if they are not checked in at your clinic.
  • Answer any re-vaccination questions.
  • For SLV/VFC clinics:
    • Select a Funding Source from the drop-down menu.
    • NOTE: The drop-down selections for the Vaccine Type, Manufacturer, and Product fields will only display values that match the funding source selection. Healthcare Professionals will only be able to log funded vaccine products for vaccine recipients who are eligible for the same funding source.
    • Select the recipient's Funding Eligibility from the drop-down menu.
  • Select the Manufacturer, Product, and UoU Lot Number from the drop-down lists.
    • The expiration date will prepopulate and cannot be changed.
  • Select the Vaccination Site, Date, andTime, then click Done.
  • After advancing to the Successful Vaccination page, you can either return to the Recipient Management tab by clicking View Portal or record additional past vaccinations by clicking Record Additional Vaccinations.

Bulk Upload of Vaccinations

Healthcare professionals at all clinic types can now bulk upload vaccinations that occurred at their clinic but were not recorded at the time of vaccination. NOTE: At this time Influenza vaccinations cannot be recorded via bulk upload in VAMS. To bulk upload vaccinations:

  • Navigate to the Recipient Management tab and click the Record Past Vaccination(s) button.
  • You will now see two options for recording past vaccination(s): Record Individually within VAMS and Import a Template for Bulk Vaccination. Select Import a Template for Bulk Vaccination to begin the vaccination upload process, then follow the steps below (which are also outlined on the screen in VAMS).

NOTE: You can only bulk upload vaccinations for recipients who have a scheduled, checked-in, or cancelled "no show" appointment.

  • Step 1: Click the Blue Hyperlink on the screen to download the Bulk Vaccination Upload Template.
  • Step 2: Click the Export Recipients  In the pop-up window, enter the Date and Time Range for recipient appointments that you want to export, then click Export.
    • In addition to your date and time range, you can also refine your recipient export by vaccine dose and manufacturer. To export all recipients in your range regardless of dose and manufacturer, select All Doses and ensure all manufacturer checkboxes are selected. As a reminder, VAMS exports recipients based on if they were added to your clinic within your date and time range, not the recipient’s next dose eligibility date. Keep in mind that this may result in inadvertently exporting recipients who already received one dose of vaccine but are not yet eligible for their second dose.
    • Doses
      • For COVID-19 Vaccines:
        • To export all recipients in your range, select All Doses.
        • To export a list of recipients who need their first dose of vaccine, select 1st Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their second dose of vaccine, select 2nd Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their third dose of vaccine, select 3rd Dose.
        • To export recipients who need an additional dose of vaccine, select Additional Dose.
        • To export minor recipients (aged 5-11) who need their first dose of pediatric vaccine, select 1st Dose Pediatric Vaccine (5-11).
        • To export minor recipients (aged 5-11) who need their second dose of pediatric vaccine, select 2nd Dose Pediatric Vaccine (5-11).
        • To export minor recipients (aged 5-11) who need their third dose of pediatric vaccine, select 3rd Dose Pediatric Vaccine (5-11).
        • To export minor recipients (aged 5-11) who need an additional dose of pediatric vaccine, select Additional Dose Pediatric Vaccine (5-11).
        • To export minor recipients (aged 6 months-4 years) who need their first dose of pediatric vaccine, select 1st Dose Pediatric Vaccine (6 months to 4 years).
        • To export minor recipients (aged 6 months- 4 years) who need their second dose of pediatric vaccine, select 2nd Dose Pediatric Vaccine (6 months to 4 years).
        • To export minor recipients (aged 6 months- 4 years) who need their third dose of pediatric vaccine, select 3rd Dose Pediatric Vaccine (6 months to 4 years).
        • To export minor recipients (aged 6 months- 4 years) who need an additional dose of pediatric vaccine, select Additional Dose Pediatric Vaccine (6 months to 4 years).
      • For Mpox Vaccines:
        • To export all recipients in your range, select All Doses.
        • To export a list of recipients who need their first dose of vaccine, select 1st Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their second dose of vaccine, select 2nd Dose.
      • For MMR Vaccines:
        • To export all recipients in your range, select All Doses.
        • To export a list of recipients who need their first dose of vaccine, select 1st Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their second dose of vaccine, select 2nd Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their third dose of vaccine, select 3rd Dose.
      • For Polio Vaccines:
        • To export all recipients in your range, select All Doses.
        • To export a list of recipients who need their first dose of vaccine, select 1st Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their second dose of vaccine, select 2nd Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their third dose of vaccine, select 3rd Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their fourth dose of vaccine, select 4th Dose.
        • To export recipients who need their booster dose of vaccine, select Booster Dose.
  • Manufacturer
    • To export recipients who need a second dose or higher of vaccine of a specific manufacturer, use the checkboxes below Manufacturer to select which manufacturer(s) you want to include in your export. For example, selecting Moderna will refine your export to only include recipients who have already received one dose of Moderna and were added to your clinic within the specified range.
    • By default, all manufacturer checkboxes are selected. This will export all recipients within your range and dose criteria regardless of manufacturer.
  • Click Export.
  • Step 3: Copy and paste the contents of the recipient export file into the Bulk Vaccination Upload Template. This template has the same first few columns as the export template to allow for a simple copy and paste of these data. In the remaining columns of the bulk upload template, use the cell drop-down options and enter data to complete the recipients’ vaccination records. Save the file as a CSV UTF-8 (comma delimited) (.csv) file.
  • Step 4: Click the Upload Files link to upload the populated Bulk Vaccination Upload Template into VAMS.

To view your bulk upload, click the Data Bulk Imports tab. On the Vaccination Import list view, select the blue hyperlinked Import ID to view the import file and a results log, which you can download to view the upload status for each recipient.

Search For, Edit, and Invalidate Past Vaccinations

You will need:

  • Recipient's email address or VAMS ID; or first name, last name, and date of birth.

Search for Past Recipient Vaccination Records

  • On the Recipient Management tab, select Search Past Vaccinations in the top right corner of the screen.
  • Enter either the recipient's Email Address or VAMS ID, or their First Name, Last Name, and Date of Birth.
  • Click Search.
  • Scroll down to view your search results. After locating your desired recipient, click View Record in the Action column to view the recipient's vaccination record.

Edit Past Recipient Vaccination Records

  • To edit the vaccination record, click Edit Record on the recipient's Vaccination Record page.
  • Update any information you need to edit, then select a Reason for Record Update from the drop-down menu in the pop-up window and click Save.
  • Any edits made to the record are reflected in the recipient's account, including their vaccination certificate.

Invalidate Past Recipient Vaccination Records

In addition to editing the vaccination record, you can also invalidate vaccination records that were entered in error on the Vaccination Records page.

  • To invalidate a vaccination record, click Invalidate Record at the top of the Vaccination Record page.
  • Select a Reason for Record Invalidation from the drop- down menu, then click Yes to confirm you want to invalidate the record.

NOTE:

  • This feature searches for recipient vaccination records at your clinic only.
  • Recipients have one vaccination record for each dose received at your clinic.

Testing Administration

This section contains three steps you’ll follow to log COVID-19 test administration in VAMS, as well as other actions to log COVID-19 tests in VAMS.

Click on the buttons below to go to the corresponding sections in this user manual.

Step 1: Access the Recipient’s Record

You will need:

  • Recipient's name or email address

The first step in COVID-19 test administration is accessing the recipient's record. To access a recipient's record, you must locate their appointment in VAMS.

  • On the Recipient Management tab, clicking the Drop-Down Arrow in the Recipient Management table header will provide you with different ways to view recipients. Choose one of the following options.
    • Today's Checked-In Appointments view will display your clinic's appointments scheduled that day.
    • Prior Checked-in Appointments view will display all checked-in recipients, including that day's and prior appointments.
    • Today's Completed Appointments view will display your clinic's appointments that have been completed that day.
    • Specimen Collected view will display all completed COVID-19 testing appointments.
  • You can sort appointment data in the table by clicking the Arrows in the column headers.
  • You can also searchfor appointments by entering theRecipient's Name, Email Address, orPhone Number in the search bar at the top right of the appointments table. Note that you can search the recipient's full name or just the beginning of their name. For example, you can find the appointment for a recipient named William Smith by searching for "Will."
  • To access the recipient's record, click the Recipient's Name.

Step 2: Review the Recipient’s Record

You will review: You may need to:
  • Recipient information (e.g., recipient’s name, age, gender)
  • COVID-19 Test type selection
  • Notes (if applicable)
  • Alerts
  • Pretesting Questionnaire
  • Recipient details
  • Complete or update the Pretesting Questionnaire on behalf of the recipient

Reviewing a recipient’s record is a crucial step in deciding whether to administer the test.

  1. Recipient Information: At the top of the recipient record you will find basic recipient information (e.g., name, birth date, and sex).
  2. COVID-19 Testing Type & Log Specimen: This section details the COVID-19 test type originally scheduled for this appointment and is the section where you will record the test administration.
  3. Notes: In the Notes section of the record, you can log information about the recipient that may be helpful to another HP in the future (e.g., recipient is nervous about swabs).
    1. To log a note, click New Note in the upper right corner of the page. A pop-up window will appear where you can add your note. Click Save.
      A note about the Notes section:
      • The name of the HP who created the note will be linked to the note.
      • If a recipient has a follow-up appointment with another HP at your clinic, notes will be visible to the HP.
      • If a recipient has a follow-up appointment at another clinic, notes will be visible to the HP at that clinic.
      • You can delete a note you have created by clicking the Drop-Down arrow next to the note in this table, then clicking Delete.
  4. Alerts (if applicable): Below the Notes section, alerts will appear if the recipient has reported information in their Pretesting Questionnaire that is important to review prior to their test or if they have not yet completed the questionnaire.
  5. Prior to administering the COVID-19 test, you will be presented with two tabs of information for review, which contain the Pretesting Questionnaire and Recipient Details.
    1. Pretesting Questionnaire: Information relevant to today’s appointment such as reason for COVID-19 test request, current signs/symptoms, recipient’s health status today, vaccination status,
      • NOTE: If the recipient has not yet completed their Pretesting Questionnaire, you will see a note here telling you the questionnaire is not complete and giving you options for recording the questionnaire.
    2. Recipient Details: Name, sex, VAMS System ID, mailing address, race and ethnicity, preferred method of communication (if provided), etc.

You can now advance to Step 3: Log COVID-19 test, but you should be prepared to review the recipient's medical information and Pretesting Questionnaire answers prior to administering the COVID-19 test to confirm they are eligible to receive a COVID-19 test.

Step 3: Log COVID-19 Test

  • On the recipient record, in the COVID-19 Testing Type & Log Specimen section, click Edit.
  • Use the radio buttons to select the COVID-19 Test that you are administering.
  • Use the drop-down to indicate the Specimen Collection Source (e.g., nasopharyngeal, sterile saline, anterior nares, dry swab [rapid only]).
  • Select the Date and Time for the COVID-19 test.
  • Enter the Collector's Initials.
  • Click Save.

Additional VAMS Functionality

This section will show you how to perform other tasks in VAMS that occur less frequently than the tasks described in this user manual, such as accessing VAMS support, or actions that will only apply to certain users, such as those who work at multiple clinics.

Click on the buttons below to go to the corresponding sections in this user manual.

Access Multiple Clinics in VAMS

You may need to perform the same or different user roles at multiple clinics. After the clinic administrator at each clinic adds you as a user for their clinic, you can easily access multiple clinics after logging into VAMS.

  • From any page in VAMS, click the Drop-Down Arrow next to your name in the upper right corner to access the drop-down menu.
  • Click Switch Portals.
    • If you have multi-portal access (i.e., you have access to more than one portal—Clinic Portal and Recipient Portal, for example) this will take you to the Portal Selection page. Click the Clinic Portal button, then you will see the Clinic Selection page.
    • If you only have multi-clinic access (i.e., you have a clinic role at more than one clinic but do not have access to another portal) clicking Switch Portals will take you straight to the Clinic Selection page.
  • From the Clinic Selection page, choose which clinic you want to switch to by clicking the Access Portal button under the clinic name.

Vaccination Self-Registration: Frequently Asked Questions

  • You must be added in VAMS as a recipient in order to schedule a vaccination appointment for yourself. To register as a recipient, determine if your state uses VAMS. If your state uses VAMS, you can access VAMS here. Click Proceed as guest to use guest registration and proceed with scheduling your vaccination appointment.
  • Once registered as a recipient, log into VAMS and you will see the portal selection page. Click Clinic Portal for your clinic staff duties or Recipient Portal to schedule your own appointment(s) as a recipient.

VAMS Downtime Procedures

VAMS is occasionally taken down for scheduled system maintenance. All VAMS functions will be unavailable for all users during these scheduled downtimes. You will be notified prior to scheduled system downtimes.

All users should consider any processes they may need to complete prior to the downtime, such as:

  • Completing Pre-Vaccination or Pretesting Questionnaires
  • Viewing/printing vaccination certificates

Clinics should consider these temporary processes so they can continue to administer vaccine successfully during downtimes:

  • Review your upcoming appointments to see if your clinic has scheduled appointments during this time.
  • Print or otherwise document the names of recipients who have appointments during this time.
  • Print CDC's Pre-Vaccination Screening Checklist
  • Print FDA's Emergency Use Authorization Fact Sheets, if necessary:
  • Print CDC's Immunization Information System Data Requirement Form to document the vaccine administration information so you can add it into VAMS when the system comes back online.
  • Make a plan to enter the data from these appointments in VAMS as soon as possible.
    • You can backdate vaccinations using the Record Past Vaccination(s) button on the Recipient Management tab. You can record vaccinations you administered or record them on behalf of another healthcare professional. You can learn more about this functionality in Vaccine Administration.

VAMS Downtime: Frequently Asked Questions

VAMS allows for healthcare professionals to backdate vaccinations, allowing vaccination to continue even if VAMS is unavailable. Healthcare professionals will need to document the following information from recipients during vaccination to enter in VAMS once the system is available again.

Information requested during vaccination:

    • Vaccine information, including UoU (vial) barcode, manufacturer, product, and UoU (vial) lot number.
    • Administration site (e.g., left deltoid).
    • Vaccination outcome: successful or unsuccessful. If unsuccessful, was it possible to re-attempt vaccination?
    • Whether wastage occurred. Note: Log waste if it did occur.

User Access Support

Quick Tip: Some users may not be able to access VAMS and may request your help in gaining access. A quick reference guide on troubleshooting for user access is available with a list of solutions. Additional FAQs about accessing VAMS can be found on the "Getting Started in VAMS" page. You can also find support within VAMS by clicking the Help Link in the upper right corner of the navigation bar.

Submit a Question to the VAMS Help Desk

  • From the Help page, click Submit a Question.
  • Click Submit a Case and select New Clinic Case.
  • When logged into the system, your name and email address will be prepopulated in your case.
  • Select the Category of your question (and Subcategory, if applicable), select your Jurisdiction, type the Subject of your question, then type your Question in the text box.
  • After clicking Confirm, a message will appear on the screen confirming your question was sent.
  • Once you receive a response to your question, you can communicate back and forth with the support team by replying to the email.

NOTE: Do not edit the subject line of the email or the support team member who initially responded to your question will not receive it.

VAMS Help Desk Contact Information

For additional support, complete the contact form for the VAMS Help Desk

Toll-Free Number| +1 833-748-1979

Email: CARS_HelpDesk@cdc.gov

Hours of Operation | 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM EST | Monday – Friday