National Flu Service Launch - 1st September 2017 - Further Details published

Community pharmacy contractors that fully meet the requirements for provision of the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service now have the go ahead to provide the service from 1st September 2017. This follows the amendment of the Secretary of State Directions.
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A link to the Secretary of State Directions, which provide the legal basis for provision of the service is available from the flu vaccination section of the PSNC website.

Contractors should read PSNC Briefing 055/17: Guidance on the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service 2017/18 (in addition to the service specification and Patient Group Direction) as this provides detailed advice on what contractors need to have in place before providing the service.

Commenting on the publication of the Directions, Alastair Buxton, Director of NHS Services at PSNC, said:
“The completion of the regulatory changes means community pharmacy teams can now start offering the NHS Flu Vaccination Service to eligible patients from the 1st September.  I hope that pharmacy teams will really get behind this important service, like they did last year, to show patients and the NHS just what community pharmacy is capable of."

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Further resources available on the PSNC Website

• Service specification for the flu vaccination Advanced Service
• PGD for the Flu Vaccination Advanced Service 2017/18
• PSNC Briefing 055/17: Guidance on the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service 2017/18

Detailed guidance, including a checklist which contractors can print out and work through to ensure they have everything they need in place to successfully provide the service.

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Flu Training

LPC's accross the region have put on many training sessions over the summer to ensure pharmacists are ready for this years service.  We have trained approx 300 pharmacists.  These training sessions are now complete however we may be able to run a further  mop up session if the demand is there.  Please click here if you still require training to register your interest.  Please note we will only be able to run a further session if it numbers are viable.