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The CPT® Code 90480 refers to the administration of a single dose of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, which is specifically designed to protect against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This procedure involves the delivery of the vaccine via an intramuscular injection, a method commonly used for vaccines to ensure proper absorption and immune response. In adults and older children, the injection is typically administered into the upper arm muscle, while for younger children, the injection is usually given in the thigh muscle, which is a preferred site for intramuscular injections in this age group. The administration of the vaccine not only involves the physical act of injection but also includes any necessary face-to-face counseling provided by the physician or other qualified healthcare professionals. This counseling may be directed towards the patient, their family, or caregivers, ensuring that they are informed about the vaccine, its benefits, potential side effects, and any other relevant information. It is important to note that the dosage of the vaccine, which is age-appropriate, is reported separately from the administration code, highlighting the distinction between the vaccine itself and the service of administering it.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The administration of the COVID-19 vaccine via intramuscular injection is indicated for individuals who require immunization against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This includes:
The procedure for administering the COVID-19 vaccine involves several key steps to ensure safety and efficacy:
Post-procedure care involves monitoring the patient for any immediate reactions to the vaccine, which may include mild side effects such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue, or low-grade fever. Patients are typically advised to rest and hydrate after receiving the vaccine. They should also be informed about the potential for delayed side effects and the importance of reporting any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider. Follow-up appointments may be necessary for additional doses of the vaccine, depending on the specific vaccine protocol. Documentation of the vaccination, including the date, vaccine type, and administration details, should be recorded in the patient's medical record for future reference.
| Short Descr | ADMN SARSCOV2 VACC 1 DOSE | Medium Descr | IMM ADMN SARSCOV2 VACCINE SINGLE DOSE | Long Descr | Immunization administration by intramuscular injection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) vaccine, single dose | Status Code | Statutory Exclusion (from MPFS, may be paid under other methodologies) | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 9 - Not Applicable | Multiple Procedures (51) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Co-Surgeons (62) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Team Surgery (66) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | Type of Service (TOS) | 1 - Medical Care | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | none | MUE | Not applicable/unspecified. |
| GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | X1 | Continuous/broad services: for reporting services by clinicians, who provide the principal care for a patient, with no planned endpoint of the relationship; services in this category represent comprehensive care, dealing with the entire scope of patient problems, either directly or in a care coordination role; reporting clinician service examples include, but are not limited to: primary care, and clinicians providing comprehensive care to patients in addition to specialty care | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | JZ | Zero drug amount discarded/not administered to any patient | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | JG | Drug or biological acquired with 340b drug pricing program discount, reported for informational purposes | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | AG | Primary physician | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CS | Cost-sharing waived for specified covid-19 testing-related services that result in and order for or administration of a covid-19 test and/or used for cost-sharing waived preventive services furnished via telehealth in rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers during the covid-19 public health emergency | EP | Service provided as part of medicaid early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment (epsdt) program | GF | Non-physician (e.g. nurse practitioner (np), certified registered nurse anesthetist (crna), certified registered nurse (crn), clinical nurse specialist (cns), physician assistant (pa)) services in a critical access hospital | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | HA | Child/adolescent program | KP | First drug of a multiple drug unit dose formulation | PA | Surgical or other invasive procedure on wrong body part | PD | Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days | PN | Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | QJ | Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | SL | State supplied vaccine | UA | Medicaid level of care 10, as defined by each state | UD | Medicaid level of care 13, as defined by each state | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner |
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Date
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Action
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Notes
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|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | Added | First appearance of code and guidelines in codebook |
| 2025-01-01 | Note | Remove the resequenced (#) symbol per CPT Errata & Technical Corrections dated 12/02/2024. |
| 2023-09-11 | Added | FDA approval received. |
| 2023-09-11 | Note | AMA guideline added. Includes 91304; published to website & received FDA approval prior to addition of 90480. The following codes received FDA approval 2023-09-11: 91318, 91319, 91320, 91321, 91322. |
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