Pharmacists trained to give flu vaccines
Pharmacists working within City and Hackney Primary Care Trust were trained to administer influenza vaccines last week in an attempt to improve uptake of the vaccine in east London during this year's annual flu campaign.
Jonathan Mason, head of prescribing and pharmacy at City and Hackney PCT
told The Journal that last year the PCT achieved only a 59 per
cent uptake of flu vaccination among its 20,000 target patients —
the worst result in the UK. “This year we are pulling out all the
stops,” said Mr Mason, who is also flu co-ordinator for the PCT.“It
was clear to us that we needed to do something different to get these
patients immunised and pharmacists are ideally placed,” he added.
The PCT is using two approaches to capture patients. Accredited community
pharmacists will identify at-risk patients who bring in prescriptions
for dispensing and check if they have received the vaccine. If they have
not received it, pharmacists will offer to administer the vaccine in a
private consultation area in their pharmacy.
In addition, the PCT is commissioning pharmacists to run clinics in practices
that have been particularly poor performers.
A service level agreement for this enhanced service is in place, and pharmacists
will receive a retainer fee to cover the campaign, training, records and
audit, plus £7.51 for each vaccine administered. As part of the
agreement, records of who has been vaccinated must be given to the GP
practice on the day of vaccination where feasible.
A total of 54 pharmacists undertook the one-day training course, which
was run by a nursing teacher from City University London. It included
recognition of anaphylaxis, the principles of immunisation and practical
vaccination skills.
Mr Mason hopes that, if the initiative is a success, pharmacists will
be used for other vaccination campaigns, including childhood immunisations,
in the future. |
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