August 2021

• Book COVID vaccination for Pharmacy Staff info here.
• Book COVID-19 test for staff here.
• COVID-19 Checklist & Guidance for CPs to consider when closing during a pandemic here.
• Submit weekly Sit-Rep (by 12pm every Monday) here.
• Submit weekly COVID-19 CPVS Wastage Report (by 4pm every Monday) here.
• Return completed contract for Care Home Pandemic Support Service to local office info here.
• Re-order Monthly PPE using Appendix 1.

BSO Communications (General & Circulars)

• SHINGLES VACCINATION PROGRAMME – ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR 2021/22 AND INTRODUCTION OF SHINGRIX® FOR IMMUNO COMPROMISED 27 August 2021
• LABELLING OF FLUENZ TETRA® VACCINE DURING 2021/22 INFLUENZA SEASON  27 August 2021
• POTENT SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS IMPLICATED IN INCREASE IN DRUG OVERDOSES  24 August 2021
• Patient Safety Group - repeat of the patient safety and culture survey   12 August 2021
• Pause on vaccination of low priority groups and change to the ordering process for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (pneumovax®23), vaccine for the national immunisation programme  9 August 2021
• Alert to Community Pharmacies - Missing Prescription Pad 4 August 2021
• Learning From Adverse Incidents - Prescribing of Strong Opioids in Syringe Drivers 3 August 2021
• Better Days Pain Support Programmes - September to November 2021 3 August 2021

HSCB Correspondence

• LFT Letter + Service Spec + Contract  13 August 2021

DoH Correspondence

• Updated Policy For Management of Self-Isolation of Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases Who Are Fully Vaccinated 24 August 2021
• Updated JCVI Advice re: Children 12-17 Years of Age 3 August 2021

Advice from the Chief Medical Officer to HSC professionals

• Updates are available here.

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

• Pharmacists removed for non payment of fees
• Pharmacists removed from the Register for non-compliance with CPD
• Appointment of New Council Members

Northern Ireland Medicines Management Updates

• Muscle relaxants ‘ineffective’ for low back pain; Caution: drug formulation changes; Deprescribing: bisphosphonates; NICE Guidance — NI Service Notifications; Managed Entry Decisions

NICPLD

Pharmacy Forum NI

• GENDER IN NI PHARMACY & THE POWER OF PARITY 11 August 2021

Drug Alerts and Shortages

Please report problems experienced in obtaining medicines to CPNI via our Medicine Shortage Reporter. This includes generic items and branded medicines.