Please see attached correspondence from the Strategic Planning and Performance Group outlining the COVID-19 Spring Vaccination Programme Vaccine Product.
SUMMARY
The vaccine to be used in the CPVS spring programme is Comirnaty® Original/Omicron BA.4-5 (15/15 micrograms)/dose dispersion for injection COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleoside modified). Full details of this product can be found HERE.
The vaccine is presented as a box of 10 multidose vials containing 6 doses of 0.3 mL of vaccine. The booster and primary dose for the Comirnaty® Original/Omicron BA.4-5 vaccine is 0.3ml.
Pfizer Comirnaty® Original/Omicron BA.4-5 will be deployed into community pharmacies in two phases:
From 27 March 2023, only those community pharmacies vaccinating care homes may order stock to meet home needs.
From 31 March 2023, all other community pharmacies planning to vaccinate persons 75 years and over or persons 18years and over who are severely immunocompromised may order vaccines.
Supplies of Comirnaty® Original/Omicron BA.4-5 will be available from Movianto using the usual online ordering process. Ancillary items will also be available to order on the Movianto portal.
SPPG will send a separate communication this week including a CPVS contract offer and the service specification. The CPVS website is currently being updated.
Community pharmacies will receive delivery of thawed Comirnaty® Original/Omicron BA.4-5 which should be refrigerated immediately at 2 °C to 8 °C and must not be refrozen.
The Green Book have recommended that Comirnaty® Original/Omicron BA.4-5 for administration may be used ‘off-label’ for primary doses.
After 31 March 2023 all residual stock of Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.1 or Spikevax 0.2 mg/mL (‘original/wildtype’) vaccine should be quarantined and safely disposed of before the start of the spring programme.
ACTION
Contractors should read the attached correspondence to ensure community pharmacy teams are aware of the COVID-19 spring vaccination programme vaccine product.
CPNI will provide you with further updates to the COVID-19 Spring Vaccination Programme.
If you have any queries relating to this correspondence please contact Greg Miller (Greg.Miller@hscni.net), Bronagh Ward (Bronagh.Ward@hscni.net) or Helen Parr (Helen.Parr@hscni.net).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Please see attached correspondence from the Strategic Planning and Performance Group outlining PPE and Pharmacy Collect Service Update and Reordering Process.
SUMMARY
Changes to Ordering LFDs for the Pharmacy Collect NI Service and PPE stock from 1 April 2023.
The Pharmacy Collect NI service is still operating and will continue to do so after 31 March 2022, and from the 1 April 2023, pharmacies can order LFDs and PPE on the same order form.
The new order form will include the option to order LFDs for the Pharmacy Collect NI service, replacing ordering from the Alliance wholesaler.
Both PPE and LFD tests can now be ordered on a weekly basis.
Resources on the BSO webpage for both PPE and Pharmacy Collect NI will be updated to reflect this change
Patient Eligibility for LFDs through Pharmacy collect NI, please note pharmacy staff do not need to check eligibility.
The DoH website is updated to reflect any changes to those eligible to obtain LFDs and pharmacy staff should refer to this if they wish to know the current situation.
Although COVID-19 testing is no longer recommended or available for most people, it continues to be recommended for some specific groups to protect those at highest risk and to support clinical care.
ACTION
Contractors should read the attached correspondence to ensure community pharmacy teams are aware of the PPE and Pharmacy Collect Service Update and Reordering Processes.
From 1 April 2023, community pharmacy teams should email the completed reorder form as an attachment by Wednesday 5pm to: pharmPPEorders@hscni.net.
Community pharmacies should continue to submit numbers of LFD transactions weekly HERE.
If contractors or community pharmacy teams have any queries please contact the BSO customer helpline 02895361301 in the first instance or your local SPPG Primary Care office.
CPNI will provide you with further updates to PPE and the Pharmacy Collect Service. If you have any queries in relation to the changes outlined in this email please contact your local Primary Care Office.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
SPPG has issued a reminder to please complete the care home pairing survey in preparation for the spring vaccination programme. Community pharmacists who are planning to vaccinate care home residents are asked complete the following short online survey by close of business, today 22 March 2023.
It is essential that SPPG receive this information today to ensure the priority deployment of vaccines to pharmacies. Thank you if you have already responded.
Note: Each contracted pharmacy should include details of any care home(s) that they will be paired with (multiple homes may be selected per contractor provider).
Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.
Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our new Medicine Shortage Reporter.
Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
As you may be aware, SPPG issued correspondence on 23 January 2023 to those pharmacies providing the Regional Stop Smoking Service.
SUMMARY
The rolling forward of the “Stop Smoking” service contract due to be returned to the PHA on 30 January 2023.
All providers that have purchased, or in the process of purchasing a carbon monoxide monitor via the PHA Reimbursement Scheme, goods need to be receipted no later than 31 March 2023. PHA will require a pharmacy reimbursement invoice in addition to the supplier invoice.
ACTION
Contractors are asked to note:
The contents of the letter and bring it to the attention of relevant staff
Submit a pharmacy reimbursement invoice in addition to the supplier invoice to PHA for a carbon monoxide monitor purchased via the PHA Reimbursement Scheme, goods need to be receipted no later than 31 March 2023.
Please see attached correspondence from the Department of Health NI outlining JCVI advice on 2023 COVID-19 spring booster programme and significant changes to the primary course offer.
SUMMARY
The current COVID-19 autumn 2022/23 booster programme, which began in the week commencing 19 September 2022 will come to an end on 31 March 2023.
Providers are not required to vaccinate those eligible for an autumn booster from that point onwards.
In addition to the spring programme, two significant changes to the COVID-19 vaccination programme will be implemented from the end of the spring programme on the 30 June 2023:
The offer of a primary course of vaccination for any healthy persons aged 5-49 years of age who have yet to take up the offer will cease.
And the ongoing offer of a primary course of vaccination for eligible individuals who have yet to take up the offer (i.e those aged 50 years and over and those aged 5 to 49 years of age in a clinical risk group) will only be available to coincide with a seasonal programme such as a spring or autumn programme.
CPNI will provide you with further updates on the Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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