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Sir Henry Cooper, who has now become synonymous with ’flu vaccination, will again be the face of the Department of Health campaign
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Main messages
The main messages of the Department of Health’s influenza
campaign 2003–04 are:
• ’Flu vaccination is available free of charge to everyone
65 years of age or over, or in one of the “at risk” groups
• While ’flu is an unpleasant experience for most people,
it can be a serious illness for people in these two groups
• The ’flu vaccination is safe and effective and most people
only experience minor side effects
• People should contact their GP to find out more and make an appointment |
Next week the annual influenza vaccination campaign for England will
be launched by the Department of Health. The national immunisation policy
for influenza remains unchanged this year; influenza immunisation should
be offered to all those aged 65 years and over, those living in long-stay
residential and nursing homes or other long-stay facilities and all those
aged over six months in an “at risk” group (chronic respiratory
disease including asthma, chronic heart disease, chronic renal disease,
diabetes or immunosupression). This year the campaign, to be launched
on 1 October, aims to achieve a national uptake of 70 per cent among
people aged 65 years and over. No target has been set for immunising
people in the disease-based “at risk” groups because reliable
statistics on the size of this group are not available.
Influenza vaccination is now a target under the Performance and Planning
Framework. The National Health Service in England will receive a total
of £5m for the ’flu programme this year, the allocation of
this to primary care trusts being based pro-rata on their population
aged 65 years and over. Each PCT will be responsible for maximising vaccine
uptake and for overall monitoring across their practices. During last
year’s national campaign more than half of PCTs achieved uptakes
of 70 per cent or above, and it is hoped that this figure will be increased
this year.
As in previous years, pharmacists will be called upon to display posters
and provide information leaflets promoting the service to customers.
However, PCTs are increasingly recognising the influence community pharmacists
can have on vaccination rates, and are initiating schemes accordingly.
For the second year running, East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT are implementing
a community pharmacy initiative to run alongside the national ’flu
campaign. Gabrielle Clezy, the pharmaceutical adviser running the East
Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT ’flu programme, says: “As part
of the new NHS we must make the best use of the skill mix available to
us and this places pharmacists and their staff high on the agenda for
action. Their active involvement and willingness to take part is crucial
to the success of the multidisciplinary PCT ’flu campaign of 2003.”
The scheme, previously piloted
by Blackpool PCT in 2001 (PJ, 14 September
2002, p356), involves pharmacy staff using prescriptions, patient medication
records and appropriate questioning to identify patients in the “at
risk” groups who may not have had a ’flu vaccination this
year. If the patient has not been immunised the pharmacist or member
of staff would counsel the patient and help dispel any myths the patient
may have. For example, some patients think the vaccine will cause ’flu
or make them ill, or that ’flu is simply a mild illness. Patients
who agree to visit their general practitioner or clinic are given a referral
slip.
Related campaigns
• The Department of Health has recommended that pneumococcal
vaccination should also be promoted at this time (PJ, 16 August, p201).
• On 1 October the Department of Health will also launch its annual “Keep
Warm Keep Well” campaign. It is hoped pharmacists will tell
patients about the free Keep Warm Keep Well winter guide and winter
warmth advice line (tel 0800 085 7000) which provide advice on
staying warm and information about the financial assistance available
to people such as the elderly, families on income support and those
with certain chronic health conditions. |
Last year, East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT enrolled 24 pharmacies
in the scheme, resulting in 243 referrals to the GP surgery for ’flu
vaccinations. This year, 29 pharmacies have been enrolled with the programme
which will run from 29 September to the week ending 3 November, to coincide
with the Department of Health’s national campaign. Mrs Clezy says: “This
year pharmacists will not only record referrals as they did last year,
but also the number of patients they engage in a ’flu discussion.
This will indicate the real impact the community pharmacist has.”
The pharmacies will be paid £200 for taking part in the six-week
programme. Michael Line, pharmacy manager at Risdons Pharmacy, Claygate,
is taking part for the second year running. He says: “Last year
about 10 per cent of people questioned had not thought about ’flu
vaccination or had not thought it applied to them. For example, young
people with diabetes who had not considered themselves to be at risk.
“There are still a good number of people who need extra prompting
rather than anonymous posters at a health centre.”
Other PCTs piloting similar schemes this year include Liverpool and Derwentside.
Liverpool PCT is incorporating its ’flu referral scheme with a
campaign promoting self-management of upper respiratory tract infections
and which aims to reduce the public expectation for an antibiotic. Janet
Decamp, network pharmacist for Liverpool PCT says: “The ’flu
and antibiotics campaign is the first phase of engaging and supporting
community pharmacists in their public health role, part of the basic
requirement of the new contract.”
Campaign materials Campaign leaflets and posters have been sent
to a number of community pharmacies. Further copies, available in
several languages, can be ordered from the Department of Health on
08701 555 455.
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