Further to the previous CPNI contractor update issued on 30 September 2021, please find attached HERE updated correspondence which issued yesterday from HSCB notifying those pharmacies who are participating in the Pharmacy Collect NI Lateral Flow Test Service of changes to the E-Form and Payment Submission.
Action: Contractors participating in this service are advised to review the updated service documentation, tools and e-form on the BSO web page.
Contractors are asked to note the upcoming key dates:
11 October 2021: Contractors should submit their first submission under the new system. Please note for this first submission only, 10 days of data will be submitted for transactions made on 1-10 October 2021. If any transactions made prior to or on 30 September miss the cut-off, please add these to this first 10 day submission.
Starting 18 October 2021:once-weekly submissions will be made each Monday for the preceding 7 days.
Please do not hesitate to contact local HSCB offices or CPNI should you require additional information or assistance.
Kind regards
Ennis
Ennis Shields Governance & Support Pharmacist
Thursday 07 October 2021
Dear Contractor
The Chief Medical Officer Professor, Sir Michael McBride and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Cathy Harrison each received their flu vaccination at a pharmacy in Belfast today to officially launch this year’s community pharmacy flu vaccination programme.
CPNI Chief Executive Gerard Greene had this important message for Contractors and all those in the Community Pharmacy Network:
“This is a hugely positive endorsement of Community Pharmacy, highlighting the importance of the expanded role of the pharmacy network in the winter flu vaccination programme.
I would like to thank the community pharmacy network for embracing this service whilst continuing to deliver day-to-day pharmacy services, supporting the health needs of your local communities.”
Action: Contractors are advised to use the social media cards (available here) for those aged 50 and over and Health and Social Care Workersaged 16 and over to help promote the service online.
Kind regards
Jude
SENT ON BEHALF OF Jude Austin CPNI Communications Manager
Thursday 07 October 2021
Dear Contractor
Further to our previous contractor emails in relation to the Community Pharmacy Moderna COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Programme for Winter 2021/2022:
Colleagues will be aware that the HSCB requested that pharmacies return their completed Moderna Booster Service Contract by 12 Noon on 07 October 2021 via the pharmacy’s hscni.net email account.
Update and Action Required: CPNI have been advised by HSCB colleagues that pharmacies who have not yet submitted their completed contract can still do so up to 5pm Friday 08 October 2021 via the pharmacy’s hscni.net email account.Please also find attached here for your reference the updated Service Specification to include booster vaccination.
Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI should you have any queries in relation to this service, or alternatively these can be directed to Mr Brendan Kerr by emailing Brendan.kerr@hscni.net Tel 02895363914 or Mob. 07554773972.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Thursday 07 October 2021
Dear Colleague
Following commencement of the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Vaccination service, the HSCB has developed a Seasonal Influenza Interactive Map to inform members of the public as to where they can obtain a vaccine. At present the map includes the name, address and phone numbers of participating pharmacies.
For pharmacy contractors who are using the SimplyBook.Me Vaccine Booking System (SBM VBS), CPNI will ask HSCB to add each pharmacy’s SBM VBS URL to the Seasonal Influenza Interactive Map,to enable online booking by members of the public unless we are advised otherwise by the pharmacy contractor.
For Pharmacy contractors using other vaccine booking systems you should liaise with HSCB if you wish to have the relevant URL details added to the Seasonal Influenza Interactive Map for your pharmacy(-ies).
Action: 1. If your pharmacy is signed up to SimplyBook.Me VBS but does NOT wish to have your booking site URL added to the Seasonal Influenza Interactive Map please email confirmation to this effect to eshields@communitypharmacyni.co.uk by 5pm Friday 08 October 2021.
2. If you have recently signed up to SimplyBook.Me and your pharmacy’s booking site is not yet on any of the HSCB Interactive vaccination maps you should contact Tom.Coyle@hscni.net to have your details added.
3. If your pharmacy uses an alternative vaccine booking system, and if you wish to have the details linked to the Seasonal Influenza Interactive Map you should contact Tom.Coyle@hscni.net.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Tuesday 05 October 2021
Dear Contractor
Please find here a letter which issued today from Northern Ireland’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer in relation to: SELF-ISOLATION OF CLOSE CONTACTS OF COVID-19 CASES WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED – APPLICABILITY IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY SETTINGS.
Fully vaccinated staff who are identified as a contact of a positive COVID-19 case will no longer be expected to isolate and can to return to work in most circumstances. However, it is important the following safeguards are implemented for them do so safely:
– The staff member has had two doses of an approved vaccine, and is at least two weeks (14 days) post their second vaccination at the point of exposure. – A negative PCR test prior to returning to their workplace. Staff should not attend work while awaiting the PCR test result. A subsequent PCR test should also be undertaken at day 8 following exposure to the case of COVID-19. – Provision of subsequent, daily negative LFD antigen tests for a minimum of 10 days following their last contact with the case each day before commencing a shift. – LFD test results should be reported to Test and Trace via the web portal and to their duty manager or an identified senior staff member). Any close contact who has a positive LFD test should self-isolate and arrange a PCR test. – If a staff member has had a SARS-CoV-2 infection in the past 90 days, they should not have a PCR test and should only undertake daily LFD antigen tests (as above). – The staff member is and remains asymptomatic. – Continued use of IPC measures, in line with the current UK IPC guidance and appropriate to the service setting to which the staff member is returning. – The staff member does not have ongoing contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19, for example, they do not live with them. The staff member should remain off until 10 days have elapsed following exposure to a household contact. – The staff member should be given information about COVID-19 symptoms and asked to self-check for symptoms every day. If the staff member develops any COVID-19 symptoms they should stay at home and immediately arrange a PCR test.
The letter from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer today contains important information which follows on from the CMO’s letter, some of which is included below:
Given the low risk of transmission in community pharmacy settings, and with a consistent application of the PPE and IPC mitigations, there is discretion for community pharmacy staff who are household contacts to be risk assessed and allowed back to work i.e. not requiring to isolate for 10 days. The risk assessment will require consideration of the nature of the household contact and how contact is minimised both with the positive case in the household setting and with persons in the workplace setting to prevent the staff member contracting and, if infected, from transmitting COVID-19. It is the responsibility of the contractor to carry out risk assessments with appropriate advice. All other requirements as set out in HSS (MD) 59/2021 e.g. daily LFD etc. must also be in place. Importantly, anyone who develops symptoms must not enter the workplace, and must self-isolate and book a test immediately in the normal way.
To note, even if fully vaccinated, if community pharmacy staff have been identified as a close contact, they are advised not to visit hospitals or care homes for 10 days and to minimise contact with those known to be at higher risk if they contract COVID-19, such as the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Group (CEV) for 10 days. They should also be excluded from close contact services such as vaccination for this period.
Action: Contractors are advised to familiarise themselves with the content of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Letter and in particular the conditions relating to the discretion for community pharmacy staff, who are household contacts of a COVID-19 positive case, for return to work.
Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the CPNI team should you have any queries.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Tuesday 05 October 2021
Dear Contractor
Further to our previous Contractor Update on 24 September, please find HEREcorrespondence relating to the COVID-19 COMMUNITY PHARMACY BOOSTER VACCINATION SERVICE For Winter 2021/2022, from Kathryn Turner, Pharmacy Lead HSCB.
Action:1. Contractors should be aware that the attached Moderna Booster Service Contract must be completed and returned by 12 Noon on 07 October 2021 via the pharmacy’s hscni.net email account in order to participate in this service.
2. Please also find attached the updated Service Specification to include booster vaccination. Please do not hesitate to contact CPNI should you have any queries in relation to this service, or alternatively these can be directed to Mr Brendan Kerr by emailing Brendan.kerr@hscni.net Tel 02895363914 or Mob. 07554773972.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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