Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF Gerard Greene Chief Executive
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
Eligible Cohorts SPPG have highlighted the differences between the eligible cohorts for Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations
Cohort
COVID-19
Flu
Carers
No
Yes
Household contacts of immunosuppressed
No
Yes
Fluad Tetra Packaging
The packaging for the Fluad Tetra Flu vaccine contains a note on the box ’50 years and older’. Please ensure to only vaccinate those aged 65 years and over.
Minimising Vaccine Wastage
To minimise waste, PHA have requested vaccination providers to adhere to the following:
Arrange cluster appointments
Only give single vaccinations from multidose vials in exceptional circumstances.
Order vaccine quantities that will not exceed two week’s activity. Please note: Comirnaty 1 box is equivalent to 10 vials (60 doses).
The only vaccine authorised for use in the Autumn COVID-19 CPVS is Comirnaty® JN.1 (30mcg/dose) dispersion for injection. Please note the adult dose in 0.3ml.
VMS
A VMS update on 15 October 2024 has implemented the following changes:
Reinstated the clinical question on myocarditis and pericarditis in the co-administration flow.
Facility to edit expiry date for the thawed COVID vaccine regardless of the order of data entry.
Facility to display the location name on the warning message when previous vaccination was re-booked.
If these updates cannot be seen, SPPG advise to perform a cache clearing refresh in the web browser.
VMS writeback to GP clinical systems:
PHA are aware of an IT issue preventing the record being copied from VMS into Emis GP system.
GP practices have been asked to check VMS for current vaccination status of patients while this is being resolved as soon as possible.
ACTION
Contractors providing the service should:
Read CPVS update 2 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
Dear Contractor
Reminder-Correspondence has been issued by the Pharmacy Forum 8 October 2024 to invite pharmacists to attend the 99th AGM of the Pharmaceutical Society NI.
The annual general meeting will be a hybrid event hosted at Society House, 73 University Street, Belfast on Thursday 17 October 2024 7.15pm-9.15pm
Attendees have the option of attending in-person or online, and can register for the event here.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The first update of concessionary prices were granted today for October 2024:
Drug
Pack Size
Concessionary Price
Cefalexin 500mg capsules
21
£2.67
Chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops
10
£2.90
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension
70
£8.48
Clomipramine 50mg capsules
28
£7.93
Escitalopram 10mg tablets
28
£1.65
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
100
£5.63
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo
120
£24.00
Levetiracetam 500mg tablets
60
£5.50
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free
50
£27.97
Metformin 500mg modified-release tablets
56
£2.93
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
150
£22.45
Methylphenidate 54mg modified-release tablets
30
£73.62
Metronidazole 0.75% cream
40
£12.35
Mometasone 0.1% ointment
30
£3.39
Nefopam 30mg tablets
90
£3.89
Nortriptyline 10mg tablets
100
£4.54
Olanzapine 10mg tablets
28
£4.27
Olanzapine 15mg tablets
28
£3.74
Olanzapine 2.5mg tablets
28
£1.40
Olanzapine 5mg tablets
28
£2.54
Olanzapine 7.5mg tablets
28
£1.29
Ondansetron 8mg tablets
10
£3.37
Pregabalin 150mg capsules
56
£2.65
Pregabalin 200mg capsules
84
£4.30
Pregabalin 50mg capsules
84
£11.93
Quetiapine 100mg tablets
60
£12.39
Quetiapine 150mg tablets
60
£15.50
Quetiapine 25mg tablets
60
£3.02
Quetiapine 300mg tablets
60
£13.24
Rizatriptan 10mg tablets
3
£8.15
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets
28
£12.37
Sodium cromoglicate 2% eye drops
13.5
£3.14
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment
30
£25.92
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment
60
£47.28
Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.
Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Shortage Reporter.
Correspondence has been issued by SPPG 15th October 2024 to those pharmacies yet to submit an evaluation survey for the Living Well campaign ‘Live longer and stronger’.
SUMMARY
The survey for the campaign ‘Live longer and stronger’ is open and can be accessed here.
The survey must be completed by 6pm 28th October 2024, please ensure to reach the final screen to confirm submission.
ACTION
Contractors who have yet to complete the Living Well survey for the campaign ‘Live longer and stronger’ are asked to read the correspondence issued by SPPG 15th October 2024 and share with relevant team members.
For any further information please contact CPNI offices.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
As you will be aware, CPNI has been working closely over a number of years with the Police Service of Northern Ireland Cyber Security Lead, and with the Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre (NICSC) to help community pharmacy contractors recognise and address cyber security threats. Currently a number of contractors are engaging with cyber security experts in a sponsored Cyber Essentials Programme.
October 2024 marks the 21st year of Cyber Security Awareness Month and, as part of this, NICSC have issued three fact sheets each highlighting key messages:
Note the three fact sheets issued through the NICSC and assess what measures should be adopted to further strengthen your cyber security.
Contractors are reminded that the storage and back up of patient sensitive data and any amendments to your systems should be carried out in line with advice from your PMR system provider and in line with Data Protection legislation.
CPNI team and police colleagues will be happy to further assist you where necessary.
Kind regards
Mike
SENT ON BEHALF OF PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY Head of Regulatory Affairs
WhatsApp Business Terms of Service can be found here and privacy policy hereUCA-NI Privacy Policy We take your privacy seriously and do not share or sell any personal details with third parties for commercial purposes. If you have any questions, please contact the CPNI office. You can withdraw your consent to be contacted at any time by calling 028 9069 0444 or by emailing info@communitypharmacyni.co.uk. CPNI Data Protection Policy and Data Retention policy can be found Click Here
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