Never Too Early to Think About Flu

As we move into the summer season it might seem odd to be looking ahead to October and planning community pharmacy’s response and preparedness for the upcoming winter and its associated ‘flu vaccination programme.

NHS England have advised, after the release of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation guidance letter in March, that the adult flu vaccination programme will start in October this year with the only exception being for pregnant women, which begins from the 1st September.

The reason for highlighting this is that it could be tempting to avoid a short window of more condensed administration and start flu vaccinations much earlier in the season.

The clinical evidence shows that the best preventative results are achieved when the flu vaccine is given from October as this maximises the body’s response and coincides with the typical peak flu prevalence. As a healthcare profession aware of this fact, it is therefore important our community pharmacy colleagues plan now to be able to vaccinate the target population cohorts within the desired window.

To assist our Numark pharmacy owners be ready for this, there is an extensive article in the Numark Membership magazine for May 24 that I’m sure you will find helpful in your planning for flu season 2024.