Seasonal flu vaccine - best practice guide

The following arrangements may enable GPs to increase the uptake of seasonal flu vaccine among their patients in clinical risk groups.

• Ensure all practice staff are fully informed of the arrangements for the campaign as set out in the annual CMO letter sent in the spring.

• Identify a named influenza champion in each practice to co-ordinate the programme, link with the PCT influenza co-ordinator and respond to patient queries.

• Share best practice with the PCT so that it can be disseminated to practices with lower uptake.

• Be able to identify the patients who fall into a clinical risk group.

• Have robust call and reminder systems in place.

• Have sufficient vaccine stock and appointment slots available to ensure all those eligible have the opportunity to receive the vaccine.

• Chase up patients who don’t respond to invitations to attend for vaccination, ideally by phone (some practices also now have texting systems in place and this could also be used).

• Consider a domiciliary visit to the home of patients who do not respond to letters or phone calls or who are unable to get to the practice.

• Ensure that patients have up to date, accurate information available, e.g. attach a copy of the 'is your child at risk' leaflet to repeat prescriptions for at-risk children or attach other relevant leaflets to repeat prescriptions for other groups, for example, pregnant women; some practices also have a stamp that they use on repeat prescriptions reminding patients to have their seasonal flu vaccine.

• Respond to any objections the patient may have to receiving the vaccine and point out the increased risk that seasonal flu poses to them and the benefits of having the vaccine.

• Make sure that systems are in place to ensure the GP practice receives and records details of anyone who receives the vaccine outside the practice (individuals in risk groups, pregnant women and others may get the vaccine from their employer, at-risk children/adults/pregnant women may be offered it in hospital/special school, community paediatrician clinic, secure children's units etc)

• Consider increasing access arrangements at the surgery, e.g. evening and Saturday morning clinics for seasonal flu vaccine in addition to routine clinics and appointment availability for the vaccine outside of these clinics.

• Put an alert on the computer records of those eligible to receive the vaccine and provide it opportunistically to those presenting at the surgery for other reasons when appropriate to do so.

• Regularly review those on the flu vaccine list who have not yet received the vaccine.