Flu Information 2019/2020
The specification can be found here: Flu specification 2019/20
Influenza Season 2019/20: Use of Antiviral Medicines
17th December 2019
North Cumbria and Morecambe Bay CCG has asked if we can highlight the document below regarding Anti Viral medication.
We would advise that pharmacies have stock leading up to the Christmas and New Year period.
Influenza Season 2019/20: Use of Antiviral Medicines
Joint statement letter from Lancashire and Cumbria LMC, Community Pharmacy Cumbria and Community Pharmacy Lancashire (CPL)
5th November 2019
This letter has been developed by the Lancashire and Cumbria LMC’s and the corresponding Cumbria & Lancashire LPC’s to support co-operation between all GP practices and community pharmacies in the challenges of the 2019-20 season.
Flu vaccination supply update
Public Health England, NHS England and NHS Improvement have issued a letter to general practices and community pharmacy contractors regarding a delay in the supply of quadrivalent flu vaccines .
Contractors are therefore advised, if they have placed an order for quadrivalent influenza vaccines, to contact the relevant manufacturer or supplier to confirm delivery dates in order to plan effectively for the season.
Cumbria County Council – Care and School Staff Flu Vaccines Vouchers 2019 /20
Like last year Cumbria County Council will be issuing flu vouchers to their employed care staff and school staff.
Please ensure all staff are aware of the vouchers.
We received a lot of complaints last year as school staff had been turned away by pharmacy staff advising that the vouchers could not be accepted. We are hoping this will not happen this year.
You will need a private PGD to provide this service. School and care staff are required to show some sort of ID when presenting a voucher – most school staff will not have photo ID, so some flexibility is acceptable, as long as you can be satisfied that they work for a County Council run school. Academies are not being provided with vouchers and are not part of the service.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – FLU Training 2019 / 20 Season
9/5/19
Given that the influenza vaccination service is now well-established, with multiple training providers, the Cumbria and North East LPCs have decided this year that we will NOT be commissioning any training. All training providers are listed on the PSNC website. We have picked a few that have training near Cumbria (Sorry none available in Cumbria)
We advise you to make direct contact with your provider of choice to book a place on their training session.
As you will be aware Face to Face training is required every 3 years.
Training providers below with session near Cumbria, this is not extensive and more are available on the PSNC website
Please ensure you highlight this information on to all your locums.
NOTE
If you are employed by a multiple/AIMp – Asda, Boots, Lloyds, Tesco, Superdrug or Cohens please discuss training with your Regional Manager or Head Office, as in previous years, training has been provided centrally.
NPA
Training dates are now available on the NPA website starting from the 19th May. Locations available are in – Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow plus others across the North.
Training costs £96.25 for members and £110 for non-members.
If you require online only training, this is priced at £27.50 for members and £30.50 for non-members.
All prices exclude VAT. More information is available at https://www.npa.co.uk/pgdindetail
Avicenna
Training dates are now available on the Avicenna website starting from the 14th June. Locations available are in Preston, Blackpool and Manchester.
Training costs £99.00 and includes the PGD
If you require online only training, this is priced at £20 All prices exclude VAT. For more information
Community Pharmacy Lancashire also have training.
Flu Training Dates 2019
CPL now has dates booked for this year’s flu training:
• 14th July 2019 Preston – Preston Grasshoppers, PR4 0AP • 21st July 2019 Blackpool – Grand Hotel Blackpool, North Promenade, Sea Front, Blackpool, FY1 2JQ • 11th Aug 2019 Accrington – Sparth House, Whalley Rd, Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, BB5 5RP
Book via this link: https://tinyurl.com/y4rwvhq8
ECG
Various dates available in Newcastle, Manchester and Glasgow Venues to be confirmed.
More information at https://ecgtraining.co.uk/product/vaccinationstrepa/
Face to face training for experienced vaccinators in need of update training is Sunday 22nd September, 14:30 – 17:00. More information at https://ecgtraining.co.uk/product/refresher-vaccination/
The morning session is £110 and the afternoon session is £70. Both prices exclude VAT.
Skills in Healthcare
No details are available but there is an expression of interest form available on the website. Completion of the EOI does not commit you to attend or incur a charge. The form can be found at https://r1.dotmailer-surveys.com/efly1d9-473nr780
Buttercups
No information available at this time.
Further information is also available on the PSNC website. The direct link is https://psnc.org.uk/services-commissioning/advanced-services/flu-vaccination-service/flu-vaccination-training/
You need to book directly with your preferred training provider.
Please do not miss out on your preferred location by delaying to book a place. Just to repeat, the Community Pharmacy Cumbria will NOT be commissioning training this year.
Annual Flu Letter
25th March 2019
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England, and Public Health England (PHE) have published an Flu Letter providing information about which adults and children are eligible for vaccination in the national flu immunisation programme for 2019/20.
A second letter will follow with information about frontline healthcare workers. It can be found at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/vaccine-ordering-for-2019-20-influenza-season-letters/
NHS England – update on recommended flu vaccines for 2019/20
January 23, 2019
Following on from a previous letter sent by NHS England, Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England has today (23rd January) published an update on vaccines for the 2019/20 Flu Vaccination Service.
As stated in the previous letter, the vaccines recommended for the 2018/19 season continue to be recommended for the 2019/20 season. Both are currently licensed and available to order for use in the United Kingdom:
- The standard egg cultured quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (QIVe) will continue to be recommended for 18 to 64-year olds in clinical at-risk groups and other eligible groups, including frontline health and social care workers; and
- The adjuvanted trivalent inactivated vaccine (aTIV) will continue to be recommended for individuals aged 65 years and over.
Additionally, the cell grown quadrivalent vaccine (QIVc), Flucelvax® Tetra, is now licensed for use and contractors can consider ordering this for 2019/20 Flu Vaccination Service (please note, although QIVc is now licensed, this will not be added to the list of flu vaccinations which can be used for the 2018/19 service). The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation considers the QIVc equally suitable to QIVe and aTIV in their relative age groups.
NHS England has determined that the high-dose trivalent vaccine (TIV-HD), which has also been granted licensed status, has a significantly higher list price and will therefore not be commissioned by NHS England or reimbursed for use in the Flu Vaccination Service 2019/20. Contractors are therefore advised not to purchase or administer this product for the Advanced Flu Vaccination Service.
A summary table detailing indicative age groups, licensure status and NHS cost per dose is included as an annex in the letter.