NHS England update on recommended flu vaccines for 2019/20

Following on from a previous letter sent by NHS England, Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England has today (23rd January) published an update on vaccines for the 2019/20 Flu Vaccination Service.

As stated in the previous letter, the vaccinesrecommended for the 2018/19 season continue to be recommended for the 2019/20 season. Both are currently licensed and available to order for use in the United Kingdom:

• The standard egg cultured quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (QIVe) will continue to be recommended for 18 to 64-year olds in clinical at-risk groups and other eligible groups, including frontline health and social care workers; and
• The adjuvanted trivalent inactivated vaccine (aTIV) will continue to be recommended for individuals aged 65 years and over.

Additionally, the cell grown quadrivalent vaccine (QIVc), Flucelvax® Tetra, is now licensed for use and contractors can consider ordering this for 2019/20 Flu Vaccination Service (please note, although QIVc is now licensed, this will not be added to the list of flu vaccinations which can be used for the 2018/19 service). The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation considers the QIVc equally suitable to QIVe and aTIV in their relative age groups.

NHS England has determined that the high-dose trivalent vaccine (TIV-HD), which has also been granted licensed status, has a significantly higher list price and will therefore not be commissioned by NHS England or reimbursed for use in the Flu Vaccination Service 2019/20. Contractors are therefore advised not to purchase or administer this product for the Advanced Flu Vaccination Service.

A summary table detailing indicative age groups, licensure status and NHS cost per dose is included as an annex in the letter.

Click here to view the letter