Travel health update

Yellow fever training in Scotland; The work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; New CDC travel app; Travel medicine: bites, bumps, burns and more – one-day conference; New logo for MHRA-approved online medicines sales sites

YELLOW FEVER TRAINING IN SCOTLAND

If you’re a yellow fever vaccination centre (YFVC) based in Scotland you should be aware that the regular two yearly online training has now changed. Previously users were asked to access and complete the training provided online by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but Health Protection Scotland have now developed their own materials for re-registration of centres, available at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/yellowfever/retrainingregisteredcentres.aspx. The training should take no longer than two hours to complete and then a Confirmation of Completion form is signed by the doctor who is registered as responsible for the YFVC, stating the name of the person who has undertaken the training and confirming that training has been completed by the due date. This training is free of charge. Chargeable face-to-face training is provided for newly registering YF centres.

THE WORK OF THE FCO

The constant threat of, and acts of, terrorism globally can significantly affect travellers, and news reports and social media coverage certainly highlight the amount of work that must go on in the background for the Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Last month I had the privilege of attending the FCO for a reception for the ‘Know Before You Go’ partners. The FCO has over 400 campaign partners, which include the RCN and the Faculty of Travel Medicine. On display were some of the 2015 campaigns including ones on travel insurance, road safety, Hajj and mental health. Campaigns planned for 2016 include alcohol and also the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Resources are to be found at https://www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo although time is needed to search the wealth of information. I’m therefore creating a page on my website to link you to some of the most appropriate links and resources for your travellers. See http://www.janechiodini.co.uk/news/help/

NEW CDC TRAVEL APP

Last June I wrote about the new publication, CDC Health Information for International Travel 2016 – the Yellow Book. This superb publication provides in depth knowledge on all aspects of travel health and is published every two years. The app is now available both for Android and IoS devices and sample chapters can be downloaded, and the entire publication can be purchased as an app for £7.99. The book itself is viewable online free of charge at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/yellowbook-home-2014 where you’ll also find details for obtaining the app or purchasing the hard copy book which costs around £30. Just remember when reading the vaccine and malaria prevention recommendations, they will be different to those for the UK, and if practising in the UK you must follow our National guidance.

TRAVEL MEDICINE: BITES, BUMPS, BURNS AND MORE

This one-day conference to be held in London on Monday 11 April 2016 is a joint event between the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Faculty of Travel Medicine. Pharmacists are now very much integral to travel medicines services so the meeting is tailored very much to their needs, but it will be an interesting day for anyone involved in travel health. See http://www.rpharms.com/conferences/travel-medicine.asp

NEW EU LOGO FOR ONLINE MEDICINES SALES FROM THE MHRA

To sell medicines online the website must be authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The logo which demonstrates this permission and a European Union (EU) logo must be displayed on every page of sales on a provider’s website. Clicking on this would take the potential purchaser to a register held by of the MHRA of authorised sellers. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) also have a logo which we’ve been familiar with for a few years now which is also displayed on a provider’s website and this will take a customer to the details of that pharmacy’s professional registration. Use of the GPhC internet pharmacy logo is voluntary but of the MHRA logo, compulsory. See http://medicine-seller-register.mhra.gov.uk/ and https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/registration/internet-pharmacy for more details