Go forth and vaccinate!

I completed my flu training last night - and believe it or not - it was a really enjoyable experience and felt very worthwhile!
 
The LPC managed to arrange the training course from Novartis again this year to allow contractors to obtain the necessary competencies to provide a private service (via the Novartis PGD/SLA) and an NHS service (via the PCT PGD/SLA) to appropriate patients.

Our communications officer, Sami, who has been instrumental in pulling together the services, was present at the beginning of the live training to explain the differences in the two SLAs and PGDs and told us all to go forth and vaccinate! 
 
Very good words indeed, and I urge you all to vaccinate as many "at risk" patients as you can...
 
The NHS service offers the opportunity to inoculate "at risk" people under 65 free of charge; and in previous years this cohort of patients have been shown to be very difficult to reach - indeed only about 50% were vaccinated.
 
This is a great opportunity for community pharmacy to step up to the plate, and work with GP colleagues to find, offer and deliver a service that will provide real value to these patients in the missing "at risk" group - protecting them from potentially life threatening illness. Also, large numbers vaccinated will strengthen the arm of the LPC in future negotiations.
 
So please, using the words of my colleague, if you've trained up and signed the relevant paperwork - go forth and vaccinate!