Travel health update
The immunisation handbook - 'The Green Book' - is now available online only; New conjugate meningococcal vaccine for travellers; travel medicine practice recommendations; Immunisation training for healthcare workers
'GREEN BOOK' - ONLINE ONLY
The Department of Health announced in the May issue of 'Vaccine Update' that the publication 'Immunisation Against Infectious Disease' known as the 'Green Book' will only be published electronically in the future. Go to www.immunisation.dh.gov.uk to link to the 'Green Book' page for the latest chapters, updates and most recent copy of the publication to download in its entirety. I tend to keep this on the desktop of my computer at work, just in case there is no internet access. I check regularly to ensure I always have the latest version of course, but this is a great way of always ensuring one is referring to the latest guidance when it comes to immunisation. Hard copies of the Green Book should no longer be used. The DH have said they are considering alternative eBook publishing options such as the iPad, Kindle and Smart phone applications. Good reason to have an iPad provided at work then!
NEW CONJUGATE MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINE
Meningococcal disease occurs as a result of a systemic bacterial infection by Neisseria meningitidis. Risk in travellers is predominantly for those travelling to the African meningitis belt although certificated evidence of vaccination is required for travellers seeking a visa for purpose of a pilgrimage such as Umrah or the Hajj. A new conjugate vaccine providing protections against four serotypes, A, C, W135 and Y is now available in the UK. Nimenrix is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. This provides a welcome addition to the portfolio of other quadrivalent vaccines - one other conjugate vaccine (Menveo) and the polysaccharide vaccine (ACWYVax). The process of conjugation improves the immunogenicity especially in young children and older people. Nimenrix is licenced from 12 months of age while Menveo is licenced from 11 years and above. For further details go to www.medicines.co.uk
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PRACTICE OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
An important paper by the Board members of the Faculty of Travel Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has recently been published.1 This document defines a set of recommendations for the practice of travel medicine in the UK. Their objective is to help raise standards of practice and achieve a greater uniformity in provision of services, in line with generally agreed criteria. It also includes specialised recommendations that may be outside the expertise of many general travel health practitioners, but in these circumstances, they relate to the advice a traveller should receive from the appropriate specialist to whom referral may be made. This document acknowledges that nurses undertaking general travel health practice should follow the RCN guidelines but the recommendations would still be of interest, and GPs should certainly be made aware of this publication. For more information, please contact me at jane@janechiodini.co.uk
1. Chiodini JH, Anderson E, Driver C, et al. Recommendations for the Practice of Travel Medicine. Trav Med Infect Dis 2012;10:109-128
IMMUNISATION TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS
New guidance has recently been published on the Health Protection Agency website entitled National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training of Healthcare Support Workers. This important document sets out a recommended minimum framework for developing training to meet the needs of Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) who administer influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations to adults. It is recognised that most immunisation occurs in primary care where there is a more innovative skill mix in a nursing team. These Standards are intended to support and facilitate high quality, safe delivery of the influenza and pneumococcal vaccination programme, rather than being seen as a barrier to HCSWs. I have previously been asked if a HCSW could perform travel vaccination but this document clearly states it is not current practice for HCSWs to administer childhood, travel or other vaccines in the UK. For a copy of the document go to http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317134415868