Flu and pneumococcal immunisation strategies in primary care?

The provided guidelines primarily detail influenza immunisation strategies for use in primary care settings, with no specific information on pneumococcal immunisation strategies.

Influenza Immunisation Strategies in Primary Care:

• Identification and Invitation: Primary care staff should inform and invite eligible children and adults for flu vaccination during face-to-face interactions whenever opportunities arise ¹. Parents of children aged 2 and 3 years in the universal vaccination programme, and children aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group, should be advised about the benefits of flu vaccination during routine appointments or other vaccination programmes ¹. Invitations should come from a known healthcare practitioner (e.g., practice nurse, doctor, pharmacist) and be tailored to the person's situation, including information on the risks of not being vaccinated and educational messages to overcome barriers ¹. Written reminders (text messages, letters, email), phone calls, social media, or a combination of these methods should be used to contact eligible individuals whose immunisations are due or overdue ¹. Digital invitations and reminders should link to trusted websites for further information, allow online appointment booking, and encourage face-to-face discussions ¹. Peer-led approaches can be considered for inviting eligible underserved groups ¹. Electronic patient records or medical notes should include prompts about people's eligibility for flu vaccination ¹.
• Offering Vaccination: When offering the flu vaccination, it should be done face-to-face if possible, using positive messages (e.g., 'two for one' protection for pregnant women and their babies) ¹. Information should be tailored to the individual's situation, include risks of non-vaccination, be simple, easy to read, and consistent ¹. The vaccination should be offered by a known healthcare practitioner and made easy to receive, such as by administering it during the same visit ¹. Preschool children aged 2 and 3 years should receive the nasal flu vaccine in general practice ¹. Primary care staff and community nurses should identify and offer eligible carers a flu vaccination as opportunities arise, for example, during a home visit when the person they look after is being vaccinated ¹. Carers should be informed about other local vaccination services if patient group direction or enhanced service arrangements are not in place with primary care commissioners ¹.
• Staff Education: Educators, line managers, and organisational leads should educate health and social care staff, particularly those in contact with eligible groups (including staff in GP surgeries and community pharmacies), about flu vaccination ¹. This education should cover who is eligible, where to get vaccinated, benefits for high-risk individuals and staff, flu transmission, relevant guidelines (e.g., the 'Green Book'), vaccine administration, and evidence supporting safety and effectiveness ¹. Staff should be trained on how to identify eligible people (e.g., using GP records) and maximise opportunities to raise awareness and offer vaccination ¹.
• Record Keeping and Monitoring: Healthcare providers must keep patient records accurate and up-to-date to identify eligible unvaccinated individuals ¹. Providers should record uptake rates, including reasons for eligibility, numbers called and recalled, vaccination setting, and reasons for declining vaccination by eligible group ¹. Commissioners and providers should agree on methods for sharing vaccination information with general practices when vaccinations are given elsewhere to ensure timely, accurate recording and avoid duplication ¹. Audit and monitoring systems should provide regular feedback on progress towards targets throughout the immunisation season and review past activity to plan for the next season ¹. Commissioners should raise awareness among staff and providers about enhanced services and other financial incentives linked to flu vaccination ¹.
• Vaccine Information: The protection from the influenza vaccine lasts about one year, requiring annual vaccination, typically before late November ²,³. Protective antibody levels may be achieved within 14 days post-vaccination ²,³. The vaccine does not protect against other respiratory infections like the common cold ²,³. People who received the Fluenz nasal spray should avoid close contact with severely immunocompromised individuals for 1–2 weeks if possible ²,³. Adverse effects are generally minor and resolve within 1–2 days ²,³.