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The information regarding HSE PharmaVax within this news item has been updated on 27 September.
Training
The updated NIO training module ‘New mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations’ in respect of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg has been approved by the PSI and is now available on HSeLanD. Pharmacists must complete the updated training prior to administering Comirnaty® Omicron XBB1.5 30mcg as part of the autumn booster programme. This training can be accessed on HSeLanD by following this pathway Courses-Catalogue-Clinical skills- COVID-19 Vaccination Training Programme- New mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations.
The PSI has also approved the NIO training which is available on HSeLanD in respect of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 10mcg (For children aged 5-11 years). This training is available to facilitate pharmacist vaccinators in supplying and administering this vaccine, as part of the COVID-19 national vaccination implementation plan. Please note that currently this formulation is not administered in community pharmacies and that community pharmacists supply and administer COVID-19 vaccines as part of the COVID-19 national programme to individuals aged 12 years and older.
Statutory Instrument
S.I. No. 451 of 2023, Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No.6) Regulations 2023 has now been signed into law allowing pharmacists to supply and administer Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg.
Guidance
The HSE has reviewed and updated the following documents:
• Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination; and
• NIAC Immunisation Guidelines. Chapter 5a. COVID-19.
An updated version of the ‘Operational Guidance for Vaccination in Community Pharmacy mRNA Vaccines’ is expected shortly.
HSE PharmaVax
The COVID-19 Autumn Booster Programme is due to officially launch to the public on 2 October. Pharmacies may administer Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg to patients in advance of this date once all the required training has been completed, they are satisfied that it is safe and appropriate to do so and they are able to record these vaccinations in HSE PharmaVax.
The national vaccination records system consists of two platforms HSE PharmaVax (Pharmacy) and HSE COVAX. The necessary product details for Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg have now been uploaded into HSE PharmaVax and HSE COVAX but the vaccination history search which displays administration records for Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg between both systems has not been enabled yet.
Where a pharmacist wishes to administer Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg, they should be aware that any dose of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg administered by any vaccinator (e.g. GP or Pharmacy) since 18 September is not currently visible. To avoid duplication of a booster dose administration, prior to vaccine administration, vaccinators should confirm that the patient has NOT recently received a Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg booster dose elsewhere.
Consent
We are aware that a discrepancy exists between the HSE ‘Toolkit to Support the Administration of Flu Vaccination to Primary School Children in the School Setting for the 2023/24’ and the PSI ‘Guidance to support pharmacies in providing safe vaccination services offsite from the pharmacy premises (Version 3 September 2022)’ in relation to the need for a parent/legal guardian to be present when a child is being vaccinated by a pharmacist in the school setting.
We have been engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure pharmacists are provided with clear and consistent guidance in relation to this matter.
The PSI Guidance and the HSE Toolkit are currently under review, and we expect them to be updated and available in the coming days. We will keep you updated.
Webinars
The IPU in collaboration with the National Immunisation Office (NIO) hosted a webinar on the Autumn Winter Vaccination Campaign 2023/24.
A recording of this is now available to view on the IPU Vaccination Hub Section 7,Webinars.
The NIO are delivering a series of webinars during September in support of the Influenza Autumn Winter Vaccination Programme 2023/24.
To date they have hosted:
• Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2023/2024 and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) Information Session; and
• Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) for health and care workers.
Recordings of both these webinars are available to view on the HSE Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2023/24 webpage.
Details of their final webinar are as follows:
• Wednesday 27 September 12.00pm-1.00pm – Topic: Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) Information Session.
To register for these events and/or to find out further information please click here.
IPU Vaccination Hubs
The IPU COVID-19 Vaccination Hub and the IPU Flu Hub are being updated as guidance and materials become available.
The QIV Influenza Vaccination Service SOP 2023/24 is now available on the IPU Flu Hub.
The LAIV Influenza Vaccination Service SOP 2023/24, Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg SOP and flu consent forms will be available shortly.
