Quality standard
Quality statement 2: Information on vaccination
Quality statement 2: Information on vaccination
Quality statement
People in eligible groups receive invitations for flu vaccination that include information about their situation or clinical risk.
Rationale
The uptake of flu vaccination is lower overall than desired among people in eligible groups, and varies across these groups. Receiving information and advice tailored to their individual situations or clinical risk will help people in eligible groups to understand the benefits of having the flu vaccine. Information can be given using different methods, including in writing, by phone or social media, and during face-to-face interactions, if the opportunity arises.
Quality measures
Structure
a) Evidence of local arrangements to identify groups eligible for the flu vaccine by their situation or clinical risk.
Data source: Local data collection, for example, service level agreements.
b) Evidence of local arrangements to create information that is tailored to different groups eligible for the flu vaccine.
Data source: Local data collection, for example, educational resources (leaflets, posters, FAQs).
c) Evidence of local arrangements to give tailored information through a variety of different methods to eligible groups when inviting them to receive the flu vaccine.
Data source: Local data collection, for example, service level agreements.
Process
Proportion of people eligible to receive the flu vaccine who receive an invitation that includes information about their situation or clinical risk.
Numerator – the number of people in the denominator who receive information about their situation or clinical risk on invitation for vaccination.
Denominator – the number of people eligible to receive the flu vaccine.
Data source: Local data collection, for example, GP records.
Outcome
Flu vaccine uptake in eligible groups.
Data source: Public Health England Seasonal flu vaccine uptake in GP patients annual data.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (GP practices) have systems in place to enable staff to identify people eligible for flu vaccination and to supply information and advice that is relevant to their situation or clinical risk, including the benefits of flu vaccination. Advice can be given by writing (letter, email or text message), by phone, through social media and through face-to-face interactions, if the opportunity arises. They consider using IT systems to help identify eligible groups and to ensure they receive the appropriate information and advice.
Healthcare practitioners (such as practice nurses, midwives, doctors, pharmacists and health visitors) invite people in eligible groups to receive flu vaccination and include information and advice in the invitation that is relevant to their individual situation or clinical risk. Information is given using a range of methods, including face-to-face interactions, if the opportunity arises.
Commissioners (NHS England) monitor whether the services they commission have systems in place to invite people who are eligible to receive flu vaccination, and that information and advice is supplied with the invitation that can be tailored to a person's individual situation or clinical risk. They share best practice between providers where appropriate.
People who should have the flu vaccine receive information and advice when they are invited for vaccination. The information outlines why it is important for them to have the vaccine and why getting flu could be particularly risky for them.
Source guidance
Flu vaccination: increasing uptake. NICE guideline NG103 (2018), recommendations 1.4.1 and 1.4.3
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Eligible groups
People who are eligible for flu vaccination in the NHS, as outlined in Public Health England's Immunisation against infectious disease (known as the 'Green Book') and the National flu immunisation programme annual flu letter. For this quality standard, the eligible groups are:
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children and adults aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as listed in the annual flu letter)
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children and adults aged 6 months to 64 years in long-stay residential care homes
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pregnant women
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people receiving carer's allowance
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close contacts of immunocompromised people
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the main informal carer of an older adult or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill
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children and young people aged 2 to 17 years who are not in a clinical risk group (as part of the ongoing phased roll-out of the flu vaccination programme for this age group).
[Adapted from NICE's guideline on flu vaccination: increasing uptake and Public Health England's Green Book, chapter 19: Influenza]
Equality and diversity considerations
There are some groups that are under-served by flu vaccination programmes such as:
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people who are homeless or sleep rough
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people who misuse substances
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asylum seekers
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Gypsy, Traveller and Roma people
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people with learning disabilities
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young people leaving long-term care
Consideration needs to be given to the best methods to invite people from these groups for flu vaccination and how best to enable their access to vaccination services.
For people with additional needs related to a disability, impairment or sensory loss, information should be provided as set out in NHS England's Accessible Information Standard.