Written Instruction for the administration of seasonal ‘flu vaccination

Following advice issued in Spring 2018 advising on the use of Patient Group Directions in Occupational Health Services, SPS became aware of issues being encountered by healthcare organisations in offering employees the seasonal ‘flu vaccine, including peer to peer vaccination, within the legislation. In late 2018 SPS began working with the CQC, MHRA, RCN, PHE, BMA Occupational Health Committee and representatives from NHS and independent sectors to identify a way that organisations can offer employee seasonal ‘flu vaccinations within the legislation. The outcome of this work has been to produce a written instruction for seasonal influenza vaccination. The written instruction can be adopted by organisations following the signed authorisation of the written instruction by an appropriate doctor. This medical signatory must be the doctor assuming responsibility for the delivery of the influenza vaccination programme to staff within an organisation; this should be an Occupational Health Physician employed by the organisation but where there is no such doctor employed/contracted by the organisation it should be the doctor assuming responsibility for the delivery of the influenza vaccination programme to staff within the organisation (for example the organisation’s Medical Director or a GP partner). Once signed and adopted it allows named registered nurses to administer the seasonal influenza vaccination to the organisation’s staff, including as a peer to peer vaccinator. Immunisers must be trained and competent to work in accordance with the written instruction.