Pharmacists should help identify patients at risk from influenza
Pharmacists can contribute to this year's influenza campaign by identifying patients at risk and encouraging them to get vaccinated.
The campaign, which starts next week,
focuses on at-risk under-65-year-olds — less than half of people
in this category were vaccinated last year. People at risk are those
of any age with respiratory disease, diabetes, cardiac, renal or hepatic
problems, or lowered immunity caused by medicines or disease. Parents
should be encouraged to have their children vaccinated. Vaccination is
also recommended for everyone older than 64 years.
Jonathan Mason, head of prescribing and pharmacy and flu co-ordinator
at City and Hackney Primary Care Trust, said: “Pharmacists can
identify at-risk patients,
especially from the middle of the campaign onwards, when people will
have already received a letter inviting them to be vaccinated.” Reminders
are usually sent out to people at the end of October or beginning of
November. He added that it is important to promote the messages emphasised
in the campaign, for example that the flu vaccine cannot cause flu itself.
Resources to support the campaign are available on the government’s
immunisation
website and on the Department
of Health website.
CPD p399
Vaccine supplies Although problems with manufacturing
this year’s flu vaccine are not as bad as first feared, the
initial delay in production means that deliveries will be spread
over a longer period, according to a letter from the DoH sent to
primary care trusts this week. The UK Vaccine Industry Group says
that vaccine will be delivered throughout October, November and
December. GPs in England should contact suppliers to confirm amounts
of vaccine
and delivery
dates, and prioritise patients
accordingly.
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How one PCT involves pharmacists in its vaccination
campaign
City and Hackney PCT is using pharmacists in several ways to build
on what was a successful flu
campaign co-ordinated by the PCT last
year (PJ, 17 September 2005, p328). The PCT will continue to use
accredited community pharmacists to administer on-the-spot vaccinations
to at-risk individuals identified from patient medication records
and prescriptions. Accredited community pharmacists are also providing
a full vaccination service for those practices whose campaigns
are being delivered by the PCT. In addition, prescribing support
pharmacists are running clinics in practices that do not have a
practice nurse. This year, an occupational health service for PCT
and practice staff is also being offered from community pharmacies.
Staff can present their identity badge at a participating pharmacy
to get vaccinated. |
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