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As the Autumn/Winter Vaccination Programme begins, this article provides an update on the programme from the IPU’s Professional Services team.
There have been several important updates for pharmacists providing vaccination services, in advance of the Autumn/ Winter 2024 2025 vaccination programme.
S.I. No. 458 of 2024 – Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2024, was signed into law on 13 September allowing pharmacists to supply and administer Comirnaty Omicron JN.1 30mcg/dose dispersion for injection.
This amendment of the legislation has also introduced changes to the vaccination record-keeping requirements and consent. From Monday 16 September 2024 the following applies:
The alignment of the details relating to consent with that of the HSE National Consent Policy enables IPU members to use HSE Consent and Medical Eligibility forms for the delivery of their vaccination services.
The updated NIO training module ‘mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for people aged 12 years and older in respect of Comirnaty JN.1 30mcg’ has been approved by the PSI and is now available on HSeLanD. Pharmacists must complete the updated training prior to administering Comirnaty JN.1 30mcg as part of the winter booster campaign. This training can be accessed on HSeLanD by following this pathway — Courses > Catalogue > Clinical skills > COVID-19 Vaccination Training Programme > mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for people aged 12 years and older.
The PSI has also approved the NIO training which is available on HSeLanD in respect of Comirnaty JN.1 10mcg (as contained within the training programme: ‘mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for children aged 5-11 years’) and Comirnaty JN.1 3mcg (as contained within the training programme ‘mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations for Children Aged 6 Months to 4 Years’). This training is available to facilitate pharmacist vaccinators in supplying and administering these vaccines, as part of the COVID-19 national vaccination implementation plan.
Please note that currently these formulations are 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.
Following updates to the NIAC Chapters 5a COVID-19 and Chapter 11 Influenza, the HSE and NIO have updated all relevant materials on their websites. These include FAQs and patient information leaflets. Within the LAIV Programme Materials section you will find the LIAV toolkit to support you in flu vaccination clinics in primary schools or community settings. This provides a wide range of information and templates to support community pharmacists considering, or providing, an LAIV service in a primary school or community setting.
The IPU in collaboration with the National Immunisation Office (NIO) hosted a webinar on Wednesday 18 September covering the Autumn Winter Vaccination Programme 2024/2025.
Dr Louise Marron, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, set out the clinical considerations for the upcoming vaccination programme. Susan O’Donnell, Professional Services Pharmacist at the IPU, outlined key operational aspects for community pharmacists. A recording of this will be made available to view on the IPU Vaccination Hub.
An email was sent to all members with full details and links to resources outlined in this article, and this information is also available on the IPU website in the COVID-19 Vaccination Hub and the IPU Flu Hub.
The IPU COVID-19 Vaccination Hub and the IPU Flu Hub are being updated on an ongoing basis as guidance and materials become available. You can also contact the IPU Professional Services team on pharmacists@ipu.ie should you have any queries or require support in relation to vaccination services.
Sinéad McCool MPSI, Head of Professional Services (Acting), IPU, and Susan O’Donnell MPSI, Professional Services Pharmacist, IPU
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