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Practice Nurse Quick Guide: Influenza immunisation 2020-21

Posted Oct 15, 2020

General practice is embarking on the biggest seasonal flu immunisation campaign ever undertaken in order to avert the potential catastrophe of a major flu outbreak coinciding with a second wave of COVID-19

WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED?

 

  • Everyone aged 65 years and older

 

  • Everyone aged 6 months to >65 years in a clinical risk group

 

  • Children aged 2-10 years on 31 August plus children in school year 7 in secondary schools

 

  • People living in long-stay residential, nursing, or care facilities

 

  • All healthcare and social care workers

 

  • People receiving a carer’s allowance

 

  • Hajj and Umrah pilgrims

 

New for 2020-21

 

  • People aged 50-64 years, subject to vaccine supply

 

  • Household contacts of people on the NHS Shielded Patient List

 

  • Health and social care workers employed through Direct Payment/Personal Health Budgets

 

RECOMMENDED VACCINES

≥65 years

Adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (aTIV), or cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc), if aTIV unavailable

Aged 18-64

QIVc or egg-grown quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVe)

Children aged 2-17 years in a clinical risk group or as part of national programme

Quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV, i.e. Fluenz Tetra)

Children aged 6 months - <2 years

QIV

 

 

CLINICAL RISK GROUPS

 

Anyone who has:

 

  • Chronic respiratory disease

 

  • Chronic heart disease

 

  • Chronic kidney disease

 

  • Chronic liver disease

 

  • Chronic neurological disease

 

  • Diabetes

 

  • Asplenia/splenic dysfunction

 

  • Pregnant women

 

  • Morbid obesity (BMI ≥40kg/m2)

 

  • Prepare reports of categorised lists of patients

 

ADVANCED PLANNING

 

  • Write to patients highlighting the added importance of this year’s flu immunisation and share practice plans to deliver clinics in a safe and efficient way

 

  • Remind patients to wear a face-covering when attending, and not to attend if they feel unwell

 

  • Allow more time for clinics

 

  • Prioritise most clinically vulnerable

 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

 

Public Health England advises:

 

  • Single use PPE items (e.g. gloves and aprons) are not necessary for each patient encounter

 

  • Gloves and aprons are recommended when there is anticipated exposure to blood, bodily fluids or non-intact skin

 

  • Wear a facemask for each session

 

  • Apply hand hygiene between patients

 

  • Ensure consistent approach to PPE throughout practice to reassure patients

 

  • Revise PPE orders as well as vaccine orders

 

FURTHER READING

 

Shirtliff A. Preparing for the flu season during the COVID-19 outbreak. Practice Nurse 2020;50(7):10-15

 

Test your knowledge

 

New CPD module: Seasonal influenza immunisation. http://www.practicenurse.co.uk/index.php?p1=curriculum&p2=assessment&p3=439

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