Carers and liver patients added to flu target lists
Influenza immunisation will be given to carers of elderly and disabled
people |
2005–06 flu vaccine
The strains of flu virus recommended by the World Health Organization
to be included in the components for the 2005-06 vaccine are:
· An A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
· An A/California/7/2004 (H3N2)-like virus
· A B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus
Manufacturers supplying the UK market include: Chiron Vaccines,
GlaxoSmithKline, MASTA, sanofi pasteur MSD, Solvay Healthcare
and Wyeth Vaccines. |
People with chronic liver disease and people who are the main carers for elderly or disabled persons are to be offered influenza immunisation this year as part of the flu immunisation campaigns in England and Wales.
Details of the campaigns have been sent to health care professionals,
including pharmacists, this week. As in previous years, all people aged
65 years and over, and all those aged over six months who fall into specific
clinical risk groups should be offered immunisation.
In addition to carers and people with liver disease, the groups who should
be considered for immunisation include those with chronic respiratory
disease, chronic heart disease, chronic renal disease, diabetes and those
who are immunosuppressed. People who live in long-term residential care
homes or other long-stay care facilities where rapid spread of infection
is likely should also be offered flu immunisation.
Funding to support implementation of the programme will be provided to
primary care trusts and local health boards later this year and will
be allocated on a pro rata basis according to the size of the area’s
elderly population. A range of providers may be commissioned under the
scheme, with general and personal medical services contractors due to
be paid £7.51 for every flu vaccination administered to at-risk
patients.
NHS employees directly involved in patient care should be offered immunisation
through their occupational health service. Funding for immunisation of
NHS staff is the responsibility of individual trusts and employers.
The Department of Health and Welsh Assembly Government are again calling
for improved uptake rates across the target groups and national publicity
campaigns will run from October.
Details of the flu immunisation campaign in Scotland are due to be published
shortly. |
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