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Community Pharmacists included on H1N1 vaccination list
A letter has been sent out today to all PCT Chief Executives, LPC Secretaries and SHA Flu leads to advise them that community pharmacists and their clinical staff who have regular clinical contact with patients will be eligible for inclusion in the priority list for the H1N1 vaccination. The letter has been signed by Ian Dalton, National Director of NHS flu resilience, and Sue Sharpe, Chief Executive of PSNC, following discussions to clarify the initial announcement of the priority H1N1 vaccination programme.
All health workers who are directly involved in patient care are eligible for the priority vaccination. Community pharmacies provide frontline healthcare and there was no intention to exclude pharmacy staff who meet the eligibility criteria which are dependent on their roles and risk of exposure.
As with other healthcare professionals, some pharmacists and their staff will fall within this definition, whereas others will not, depending on the role that individual plays in patient care. The assessment and implementation of this will be a local responsibility.
Commenting on the letter, Sue Sharpe said: “Community pharmacists have been understandably unhappy about their apparent exclusion from the list of frontline healthcare workers eligible for the priority H1N1 vaccination programme.
DH has assured me that there was no intention to exclude pharmacy staff who work directly with patients on the frontline from receiving the H1N1 vaccination as a priority and I am pleased that this has now been clarified.
I am also encouraged to see that the DH continues to have a strong commitment to community pharmacy and has acknowledged the important contribution that it has played in the pandemic response".
The full content of the letter can be accessed by clicking here.
Posted 4 September 2009