Considerations

Not all commissioned OHS providers will include the provision of the seasonal influenza vaccine as part of their contract. However, where this is offered this should be the preferred option.

The provision by an external OHS provider offers confidentially to staff members receiving the vaccination.

Where this is not offered or does not meet the needs of the practice (for example is not easily accessible to staff) consider alternative options.

Considerations

The written instruction must first be signed by the GP within the practice assuming responsibility for the provision of the seasonal vaccination to staff. This will then allow named practice nurses, authorised under the written instruction, to provide the seasonal influenza vaccination to all staff within the practice.

The named nurses operating under the written instruction are responsible for ensuring the vaccination is given within the criteria set out in the written instruction and that they work within the bounds of their professional competence.

The practice needs to follow their own practice policies for:

• the recording of the administration within the staff member’s record
• consent to share information with the staff member’s registered GP practice where appropriate
• how they manage confidentiality issues where a member of staff may potentially have a contraindication to vaccination but do not wish to disclose this to their employer

Influenza vaccine written instruction templates for adoption contains further information.

Considerations

Instead of providing the vaccination within the practice, the practice may offer to reimburse staff the cost of obtaining this privately through a community pharmacy.

Some community pharmacies offer a prepaid voucher scheme where vouchers can be purchased in advance by the practice and then be supplied to staff which they then present at the time of vaccination.

Provision by a community pharmacy offers confidentially to staff members receiving the vaccination.

Considerations

This is private provision.

The prescriber signing the PSD would be responsible for their own prescribing and would be responsible for clinically assessing each person receiving the vaccination.

The practice needs to follow their own practice policies for:

• the recording of the prescribing and administration within the staff member’s record
• consent to share information with the staff member’s registered GP practice where appropriate
• how they manage confidentiality issues where a member of staff may potentially have a contraindication to vaccination but do not wish to disclose this to their employer

The PSD must meet all legal requirements. For further detail see the SPS resource on Patient Specific Directions (PSD).