2 August 2021

Dear colleagues

General Practice Enhanced Service Specifications for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2021/22

Today, we have published the two Enhanced Service Specifications for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2021/22. This follows the publication of the Annual Flu letter on 17 July 2021.

The service specifications for 2021/22 are largely based on the 2020/21 flu service specifications, with the exception that the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme specification (covering adults and at-risk groups) will be commissioned as an Enhanced Service this year to enable greater responsiveness to any subsequent JCVI advice or Government policy. The Childhood Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2021/22 was previously commissioned as an Enhanced Service. The Enhanced Services will be offered to all GP practices providing essential services and will not be capable of amendment by CCGs.

A further key change to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2021/22 Enhanced Service Specification is that for this season, practices will be able to vaccinate various cohorts of patients that are not registered with the practice.

We are inviting all practices to opt-in to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2021/22 enhance services by 23:59 on Monday 16 August 2021.

Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service

The Community Pharmacy Service Specification for the upcoming 2021/22 flu season has been published today. This will allow pharmacy contractors to review the documents before the season starts and to prepare for service commencement on 1 September 2021.  The supporting Patient Group Direction (PGD) document will be published on our website following final clinical sign off.

Contractors should make sure they are aware of the requirements of the service documents prior to providing the service.  Any queries can be directed to the Community Pharmacy inbox: england.communitypharmacy@nhs.net.

Flu vaccination: who should have it this winter and why

Public Health England has updated its guidance for the 2021/22 flu vaccination season. This guidance explains to patients how they can help protect themselves and their children against flu this winter. It includes information for children, eligible adults and pregnant women, and details why it’s very important that people at increased risk from flu, or who care for someone vulnerable, to have their free vaccination every year.

Best wishes

Nikki and Caroline

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme updates

Managing challenging behaviours at vaccination sites guide for site managers

We have developed a short pack with safety awareness steps to take by staff and volunteers should they come across challenging behaviours. Individuals may become challenging for a number of reasons such as fear of needles, anxious about being in public having isolated, worried about protecting loved ones or fear they might catch the virus etc. Site Managers can help staff and volunteers to de-escalate challenging behaviours by using team stand-up meetings to remind everyone to listen with empathy to bring calm to a situation and a safe outcome.

Please use the pack to outline to staff and volunteers how they can help manage challenging behaviours and display the posters included at your sites. Site Managers can use the pack as a complementary set of resources should local staff/volunteer safety and wellbeing policies and communications be in place.

Pregnancy and vaccination

Since 16 April, the JCVI has recommended that pregnant women should be offered the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines alongside the general population.

We sent a letter on 30 July to all maternity and primary care services asking them to make every contact count in providing evidence-based advice to women on the benefits of vaccination in pregnancy for them and their babies.

Vaccination sites must also be prepared and have capacity in place to provide this essential advice. You can access Public Health England and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists leaflets to help support answering any questions or concerns pregnant women may have around the vaccine.

Latest data published on 25 July by UKOSS suggests that the Delta variant is associated with an increased risk of severe illness among hospitalised pregnant women, compared with the Alpha and ‘wildtype’ variants of previous waves. The research also shows that of 171 pregnant women admitted to hospital between 16 May and 11 July, none had been fully vaccinated.

Guidance for vaccination sites on providing vaccination in pregnancy can be found here. More detailed guidance and evidence on vaccination in pregnancy for clinicians can be found in chapter 14a of the Green Book, and on the RCOG website.