Flu Vaccination Briefing August 2024 – Community Pharmacy London

The Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service & London Flu 2024/25 – KEY POINTS

Start Date
Both the National Advanced service and the London Flu service run from 3rd October 2024 to 31st March 2025. Only Pregnant women and children can be vaccinated earlier. The there no CP provision for vaccinating children on the NHS.
IT System Requirements
For London pharmacies only SONAR can be used to record Advanced Flu service and London Flu service activity. Pharmacies CANNOT use Pharmoutcomes. This is because Pharmoutcomes does not have a Data Sharing Agreement with NHSE, who commission the IT provider.
Flu Underwriting Scheme
For the 2024/2025 Flu season there will NOT be an Underwriting Scheme, despite strong representations by Community Pharmacy London
UKHSA PGD
Can only be used by Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians for Advanced national service.
Cannot be used for the London Flu Service because it does not cover the cohorts in the London Flu service
Cannot be used for children under 18
Cannot be used for private Flu vaccinations
Private Flu PGD
Available from various providers eg Sonar, Pharmadoctor
Essential for London Flu Service. You cannot provide the London Flu Service without a private Flu PDG
Technicians allowed to vaccinate under the London Flu SLA, but only if the private Flu PGD includes technician. Please check with your private PGD provider.
You can get a private PGD for vaccinating children, but it will be by injection.
National Protocol for FLU
Other trained pharmacy staff members can vaccinate for Flu under the National Protocol. The key requirement is that the following must be done by the supervising registered professional ( pharmacist or technician)
a. Assessment of the individual presenting for vaccination
b. Provide information and obtain informed consent
c. Provide advice to the individual
The National Protocol can be used for the London Flu Service if an appropriate private PGD is in place

Vaccination in Alternative locations
• Vaccination in the pharmacy, outside the consultation room, but elsewhere within the premises is allowed
– may support better social distancing
– still needs to be confidential
• Contractors can administer a flu vaccination at a patient’s home, where requested by the patient
• No requirement to provide notification of intent to provide off-site NHS flu vaccinations
• Continuing flexibilities increase scope of off-site provision. The possible sites could include:
– Marquees outside the pharmacy premises
– Local village, town or community halls
– Church halls, temples or mosques
– Adapted mobile units such as buses or vans
– Car parks
– Sports halls / Stadiums
• Vaccinating patients in care homes or long-stay residential nursing homes
• Can continue to vaccinate care home staff at their place of work
• No requirement to notify the patient’s general practice in advance
• NHS England requires pharmacists providing flu vaccinations in a patient’s own home or a care home have a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate

Training requirements for vaccinators
Practical Training: All pharmacists and vaccinators must complete practical training in vaccination that aligns with the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners.
Face-to-Face Training: Ongoing competence can determine if face to face training in required for injection technique. Basic life support training should be done periodically. Every three years would be a good benchmark.
Competence Assessment: Keep a portfolio of all training and use the UKHSA Flu vaccinator competency assessment tool. If you are registered pharmacy professional you can use the CPPE Declaration of Competance to portfolio your training.
E-lhf : E- Learning for Healthcare Flu Immunisation Course is available to those with a nhs.net account