Updates for the 2020-21 Influenza Immunisation Programme Published

On 5th August 2020 the NHS published an update to the National Flu Imunisation Programme 2020-2021. This letter has been shared by the local NHSE&I team and is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flu-immunisation-programme-plan.

The letter details the changes to the flu plan for the 2020-21 flu season, and provides information about the planned expansion of the immunisation programme to include:

  • Household contacts of shielded patients
  • Children of school year 7 age
  • Health and Social care workers employed to deliver domiciliary care
  • People aged 50-64 years (from November/December)

It also inlcudes details of the groups for whom flu immunisation is avaiable through the NHS, and  the challenges and processes of delivering a flu vaccination programme during the pandemic. It also contains clear information about the different vaccine types available and to which groups these should be administered (Appendix B of the letter).