Further national guidance on this is expected and we are looking at how we can support with you with this going forward. Public FAQs on immunisations are attached.
SENT ON BEHALF OF LIZ WISE, DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE COMMISSIONING
Dear colleague,
Many of you have been in touch enquiring about the status of London’s immunisation programmes during the COVID-19 outbreak. We are waiting on national guidance which we will share with you as soon as we receive it. In the meantime I hope to provide you with some clarity.
The purpose of our national immunisation programmes is to reduce incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases in our population. It is therefore important that we maintain our uptake to prevent a resurgence of these infections.
When delivering the vaccinations, please triage and undertake the advised precautions for giving face-to-face appointments as per the primary care guidance. It may be necessary to adapt your current model of delivery to accommodate this. We are working on guidance around models of delivery which we hope to share with you soon.
Childhood Immunisations
- All routine childhood immunisations from birth up to and including vaccines due at one year of age should continue.
- If people present for other scheduled vaccinations, the opportunity to provide these should not be missed.
Maternal and Targeted Vaccinations
- Please ensure that pertussis vaccination continues to be offered to pregnant women. Where vaccination cannot be provided in maternity, please signpost pregnant women to their GP.
- Please continue to offer and provide BCG vaccinations (Maternity & Community BCG providers only). Please risk assess and prioritise those infants aged 0-1 who either reside in a borough of a TB incidence rate of >40 per 100,000 or live in a household with a parent or grandparent from a country with a TB rate of >40 per 100,000.
- It is imperative that any infant born to a Hepatitis B positive mother receives their course of Hepatitis B vaccination as this is time critical. These infants must continue to be identified and called for vaccinations.
Should have you any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting ENGLAND.londonimms@nhs.net.
Many thanks for all your hard work.
Kind Regards
London Immunisation Team
NHS England and NHS Improvement - London Region