For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service
Dear Colleague
SPPG have issued correspondence providing an update in relation to the Autumn 2024 COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme.
SUMMARY
Community Pharmacies that are intending to vaccinate care homes this Autumn are requested to complete the online pairing survey by Friday 27th September 2024.
Any outstanding CPVS contracts for both Flu and COVID-19 vaccination are requested to be submitted by Friday 27th September 2024.
Movianto are currently processing orders for care home vaccination providers, and pharmacies providing a walk-in service can order vaccines from Monday 30th September 2024.
Current turnaround time for orders is up to 5 working days for delivery which should be factored in when planning clinics. Order quantities are requested to not exceed two weeks of activity.
The only authorised vaccine for COVID-19 is Comirnaty® JN.1 (30mcg/dose) dispersion for injection, please note the adult dose is 0.3ml.
RSV vaccination of 75-79 year old care home residents is being carried out by Trust vaccination teams. Whilst there is no specific interval between the administration of RSV and COVID-19 or Flu vaccine, they should not be routinely administered on the same appointment or same day. This should be considered when arranging vaccinations with care homes, walk-in patients aged 75-79 years old, and pregnant women.
ACTION
Contractors providing the service should:
Read CPVS update 1 and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Please do not hesitate to contact the CPNI office should you require any further information.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
This is a reminder that there is currently a pilot for out of pocket expenses on laryngectomy and tracheostomy products. The pilot has been extended for a further six months. CPNI would encourage contractors and their teams to submit claims for eligible products under this pilot.
Dear Contractor
Information regarding a pilot for out of pocket expenses for laryngectomy and tracheostomy products has been issued by BSO 25th January 2024.
SUMMARY
Laryngectomy and tracheostomy products are appliances included in Part III (f) of the NIDT.
Whilst these products are initiated in secondary care, the supply route is currently from community pharmacies via a HS21 issued by GP practices.
CPNI have highlighted to BSO that pharmacies are dispensing these products at considerable financial loss as currently out-of-pocket expenses cannot be claimed.
A pilot will run for 6 months initially (February to July 2024) which will allow out-of-pocket expenses to be claimed for these items. This pilot has been extended for a further 6 months.
ACTION
Contractors should read and review the correspondence issued 25th January 2024 by BSO.
During the pilot period, for any claims of out-of-pocket expenses for items in Part III (f) of NIDT, prescriptions should be submitted in the uncoded/part-coded bundle with the item diamonded.
The invoice for the item must be attached, and the serial number of the prescription should be endorsed on the attached invoice.
The prescription should be endorsed with the out-of-pocket claim, along with the endorsement Part III (f) pilot. An example of this is attached within the correspondence.
Prescriptions issued before February 2024 will not be included within the pilot even if submitted within the February 2024 prescription submission.
Please share this information with all relevant team members.
Any queries should be directed to mark.nelson@hscni.net or Edward.Ashby@hscni.net
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Reminder: All Stop Smoking 4 and 52 week follow-up consultations that have not expired, i.e. within 12 months, are eligible to be claimed for and must be uploaded on to the Elite system before Friday 27th September 2024.
Dear Colleague
Correspondence dated 30th August 2024 regarding the Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service has been issued by the PHA.
SUMMARY
The delivery of Stop Smoking Services across Northern Ireland has contributed to the reduction of smoking prevalence to 14%.
In the coming months, the PHA will be linking closely with all Stop Smoking Service providers to ensure the service continues to be of high quality and fit for purpose.
From 14th October 2024, the PHA and SPPG will be undertaking a data review of Stop Smoking Services that were delivered between 1st April 2023-31st March 2024.
This review will aim to demonstrate that the work of Community Pharmacy is accurately reported, and is delivered in line with best practice.
The PHA are asking that all Stop Smoking client data is accurately uploaded onto the electronic monitoring system before Friday 27th September 2024.
All 4 and 52 week follow-ups that have not expired, i.e. within 12 months, are eligible to be claimed for.
The PHA/SPPG may contact some service providers at a later date to discuss service activity and PV1 activity for this period.
The PHA wish to remind Stop Smoking Service providers that the Quality Standards for Stop Smoking Services in NI, require carbon monoxide validation for all clients at the 4 week follow-up. This is an area which has been identified as requiring improvement and will be monitored as part of the quality improvement process.
ACTION
Contractors should:
Read and note the PHA correspondence and share with relevant members of the pharmacy team.
Ensure all 4 and 52 week follow-up that have not expired, i.e. within 12 months, have been uploaded onto the electronic monitoring system before Friday 27th September.
Ensure that a carbon monoxide validation is carried out for all Stop Smoking Service users at the 4 week follow-up.
SPPG have issued correspondence on 24th September providing further information regarding the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme for Autumn 24.
Summary
Details of the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme for Autumn 2024 have been finalised.
The service specification and associated service documents are now available on the BSO website.
Action
Review the SPPG correspondenceand bring to the attention of relevant members within your pharmacy team.
The vaccination service documentation for the Autumn 2024 programme can now be viewed on the BSO website.
Should you have any queries in relation to this, please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
Background
The implementation of the Windsor Framework (WF) from 1 January 2025 will have implications for the medicines supply chain across the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland in particular. The outworkings of the Framework will introduce new packaging and licensing arrangements for medicines placed on the Northern Ireland market and will have implications for the Falsified Medicines Directive.
NICPLD has arranged three workshops for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to be hosted by a range of experts in the field of medicines regulation.
Contractors are urged to ensure that appropriate member(s) of their dispensary teams attend one of these sessions which will also include discussions on supply against EEA prescriptions and the movement of medicines to and from Northern Ireland.
Mr. Canice Ward: Head of Medicines Regulatory Group, Department of Health
Mr. Sean Curley: Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, Department of Health
Catherine Lenihan: Head of Regulatory Reform, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Fionn Craig: Deputy Director of EU Regulations, Devolution and the Union, Department of Health and Social Care
Noah Thorold: Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and Crown Dependencies Policy, Department of Health and Social Care
Maria Jones: Policy Lead on Medicines Regulatory Policy Northern Ireland – Windsor Framework, Department of Health and Social Care
Aim
To enable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to understand the implications the Windsor Framework Agreement will have on medicines and the pharmacy sector from 1 January 2025.
Learning Outcomes
Having attended this workshop, you will be able to understand:
The new packaging and licensing arrangements for medicines placed on the Northern Ireland market from 1 January 2025
The implication of the Windsor Framework Agreement on the EU Falsified Medicines Directive
The supply of medicines using prescriptions from EEA prescribers from NI pharmacies
Changes to the supply of medicines to and from NI from 1 January 2025
How to raise potential concerns about any future EU legislation that may have an impact on pharmacy and medicine supplies in NI.
Summary
It is important that contractors and their teams are prepared for the implementation of the Windsor Framework on 1 January 2025, and contractors are asked to:
Note the workshops being offered
Try to ensure that appropriate member(s) from their dispensary teams attend one of these sessions.
CPNI colleagues are available to discuss any aspects of the new arrangements. Any questions relating to the venues should be directed to the NICPLD team.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
Dear Contractor
SPPG have issued correspondence on 20th September providing details of the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination programme for Autumn 24.
Summary
The Community Pharmacy Vaccination Service (CPVS) COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza – Autumn 2024 will officially begin on 7th October 2024.
Community pharmacies will offer vaccinations to those aged 18 years and above in the following eligible groups:
COVID-19 and Flu
All residents and staff in a care home registered with RQIA
All adults aged 65 years and over
Persons aged 18-64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined in the Green Book) including pregnant women.
Frontline health and social care workers
Flu ONLY
Persons aged 18 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression (as defined in the Green Book)
Carers (as defined in the Green Book)
The service specifications and PGDs are in preparation and will be available shortly at the BSO website.
Community pharmacies who have completed their contract can place orders for COVID-19 Comirnaty JN.1 and Flu- aQIV (65yrs and over) & QIVc (under 65yrs) with Movianto from 23rd September 2024, in preparation for the start date on 7th October 2024. Pharmacies are requested to only order quantities of vaccine to cover 2 weeks anticipated activity.
Full details of the service remuneration (including the vaccination of care homes) are contained in the service letter.
Further details on the regional COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination programme can be found in the relevant letters from the Chief Medical Officer.
Any queries regarding access to the Vaccine Management System (VMS) should be directed to tom.coyle@hscni.net, and all vaccinations must be recorded on the VMS within 24 hours of the vaccination activity.
Action
Review the correspondence and bring to the attention of relevant members within your pharmacy team.
Those pharmacies wishing to participate in the vaccination of care homes should initiate a pairing arrangement with the respective care home. The online pairing form should be completed before 5pm on Friday 27th September 2024.
Should you have any additional queries, please contact a member of the CPNI team.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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