NHS Vaccination Strategy
LMC Commentary: NHS Vaccination Strategy - ‘Shaping the future delivery of NHS vaccination services’ - NHSE released this document, on the 13th December 2023.
By April 2025 the responsibility of commissioning vaccinations will be held by ICBs and this link from the report illustrates the implementation timescale. In 23/24 the national financial framework and item of service fee will be established. It takes on the Fullerstock principle of ‘amalgamating existing primary care funding where possible and maximise system decision making on discretionary investment.’ The aim is to increase funding for underserved populations and tackle wider health inequalities.
IT/ Digital improvements are welcomed. There will be a significant development in the NHS app. There will be nationally led campaigns and resources. A new national vaccination record will be developed. By 25/26 NHS app will hold a record of immunisation history and further developments in online booking will be enabled. This recognition of the need for ‘front door’ access to vaccinations to be simple and convenient is important but this will not increase core funding for GP practices.
However, as IGPM points out, information will be sent to patients from multiple sources. There will be campaigns pushing walk-ins, national invites and reminders. E consent for guardians will be developed. They even intend to allow online on-the-day cancellations. In the short term, the national booking system will complement the local booking system but long term the intention will be the national booking system. What is the impact on General Practice?
Location of vaccination- IGPM quote that in 5 years of community pharmacies providing seasonal flu only one year illustrated a higher uptake. Where is the evidence that multiple access points increase uptake? How will practice income be maintained to provide practice stability? All except preschool/ infant vaccinations can be done out of General Practice. There will be targeted outreach development with walk-ins, pop-ups, suggested opportunistic vaccinations on home visits, and clinics held in a variety of community settings. These outreach options will be used based on risk and often held in areas of deprivation and ethnic and racial diversity.
This strategy states ‘make vaccination fundamental part of the PCN multidisciplinary team, a PCN is the vaccination delivery network for a life course of vaccinations’.
Integration with the wider prevention strategy- the aim is that this is to be ran via neighbourhood teams and whilst being vaccinated- populations can be targeted eg hypertension screening, asthma checks, smoking cessation.
Improvement of vaccination supply is welcomed repercussions to General Practice need to be considered. When possible coadministration of seasonal flu and covid are to be the default model.
The implementation of this new vaccination strategy is dependent on the detail and the LMC will start negotiations with the ICB to develops Somerset’s vaccination strategy optimally. The Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) here for their statement on this.
