GP COMMUNICATION – IMMUNISATION AND VACCINATION UPDATE
AUGUST 2015
Meningococcal B
Practices should be aware that an updated Enhanced Service Specification Meningococcal B (MenB) infant
vaccination programme 2015/16 (Publications Gateway Reference No.035833 has been published. This
updated service specification replaces Version 1. Version 2 has been updated to allow the delivery of the
immunisation to children within the specified date of birth cohort up to the age of two years if they
present late.
Shingles
Please find a press release relating to the eligible groups for the 2015-2016 shingles cohorts.
Press release: Eligible groups for shingles vaccine announced
PHE Vaccine update
The link to the June 2015 newsletter for immunisation practitioners, with the latest developments in
vaccines, vaccination policies and procedures
Correspondence: Vaccine update: issue 230, June 2015
New immunisation schedule
The link to the new routine immunisation schedule from Summer 2015 which includes men B and ACWY.
Guidance: The complete routine immunisation schedule
Resources for Meningococcal B and ACWY immunisation programme
Resources for the Men ACWY programme, including a GP letter template for calling the Year 13 cohort,
can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/meningococcal-acwy-menacwy-vaccinationprogramme
Resources for the Men B programme, including a GP letter template for calling the Year 13 cohort, can be
found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/meningococcal-b-menb-vaccination-programme
As part of the resource package, training slide sets for each programme are available and should be
viewed by all immunising health professionals prior to signing the patient group direction and administering
vaccines., if they have not attended a face to face training session. The resources are now available on the
gov.uk website as above.
Men B standard slide-set and information for health professionals document :
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/meningococcal-b-menb-vaccination-programme
Men ACWY standard slide-set and information for health professionals document:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/meningococcal-acwy-menacwy-vaccination-programme
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Shingles and Men ACWY Patient Group Directions
These have been updated by PHE and sent out to all practice managers. If you are having difficulty
accessing a copy, please contact the Screening and Immunisation Team as below.
Prenatal Pertussis
Practices are reminded of their responsibilities to call and recall pregnant women in the eligible cohorts. All
pregnant women at or past week 28 of their pregnancy are eligible for the pertussis vaccine.
School Aged Immunisation Service (SAIS)
Practices are reminded that the SAIS has been commissioned from the 1st September 2015 and will
undertake immunisation of influenza to school years 1 and 2, routine cohorts of HPV (except 16-under 18’s
which remain within general practice remit and incomplete schedule catch ups for the older cohorts) and
routine teenage boosters Td/IPV and Men ACWY. SAIS will also be doing catch ups of Men ACWY cohorts
as per the national programme roll-out.
Screening and Immunisation Team, NHS England, (North Midlands)
Sarah Mayfield, Screening and Immunisation Manager sarahmayfield@nhs.net m: 07918368418
Nikki Henson, Screening and Immunisation Manager nikkihenson@nhs.net m: 07972194593
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