Northern Ireland COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

The Department of Health Covid Vaccination Dashboard

The Green Book : Chapter 14a

  • The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines
  • The dosage and schedule for the UK & recommendations for use

HSCB Resources

HSS(MD)35/2021 – USE OF THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE: ADVICE ON UPDATED JCVI STATEMENT 11/05/21

PHA – COVID-19 Vaccination & Thrombosis – NI Update 22/4/21 – Dr Claire Corrigan & Dr Gary Benson

DoH & JCVI statement on use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: 7 April 2021

Patient Info – PHE – COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting Information about your vaccination

HSS(MD) 34/2021 – MHRA AND JCVI ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING ASTRAZENECA VACCINE UPDATED CONTRAINDICATIONS AND NEXT STEPS

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HSCB COVID-19 INTRANET PAGE

**Please see the HSCB Intranet for the latest Resources**

 Please note some links will only work within the HSC network

HSCB Update 20/4/21 on AZ Supply

DoH & JCVI statement on use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: 7 April 2021

Covid-19 vaccination LES 2021 specification UPDATE 26 MAR 2021

HSS(MD) 26/2021 VACCINATION PROTOCOL FOR COVID-19 VACCINE ASTRAZENECA 

Covid-19 Vaccine Update letter 19 March

26/2/21 -Commencement of 2nd Doses of Covid AZ Vaccine

23/2/21 – Priority Group 6 Clarification

22/1/21 Letter to all GPs – Covid 19 Vaccination – Next Priority Groups

Covid 19 Vaccination Programme 2021-22 – 5/1/21

HSCB PHA COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine PGD v1.07

Letter to all GPs : Timing of 2nd dose of Covid-19 Vaccination 13/01/21

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HSCB FAQS

Link to HSCB Hosted AstraZeneca Vaccine FAQs

Password is in the email ‘ COVID-19 & Flu Update 17 February’ from RegionalGMSCorrespondence@hscni.net

FAQs are correct on that date, subject to change as information develops

IF you are having difficulty you can access the GPNI PDF version below – this will be the latest version on the date specified by the file name.

COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs updated 26th May

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COVID-19 Vaccination Pathways for Care Homes

To support access to the COVID-19 vaccine for those residents who may have missed the opportunity to be vaccinated within the initial roll out by HSC Trusts to Care Homes.

COVID-19 Vaccination Pathways 08 Feb 2021

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COVID-19 vaccination for people aged 16 & 17 in at risk group (priority group 6)

As the AstraZeneca vaccine used by GPs is only licenced for people aged 18 or over, 16 & 17 year olds identified as being Clinically Extremely Vulnerable or at risk will need to have Pfizer vaccine which is used in the vaccination centres.

When practices run their “Clinically Extremely Vulnerable” and “at risk” searches, they should identify patients aged 16 & 17 but not call them for vaccination in the practice.

Patients aged 16 & 17 should be actively encouraged to book for vaccination at the centres which are using Pfizer which is approved for people aged 16 or over. The portal now has an option for clinically extremely vulnerable and for clinically vulnerable aged 16 & 17.


 

HSS(MD) 10 2021 – Guidance on the Use of the COVID-19 Vaccine Astrazeneca to Vaccinate Housebound Patients

UPDATED GUIDANCE ON TIMING OF COVID-19 VACCINE DOSING INTERAL IN PATIENTS DUE TO RECEIVE TREATMENT WITH IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

 

 

HSC / Other NI Updates

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Department of Health Updates

DOH COVID-19 Vaccination programme Phased Plan

Priority groups for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination: advice from the JCVI

PHA – Professional guidance and information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

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HSS MD 4 2021 Interval between COVID-19 Vaccine Doses 8/1/21

Deployment of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine HSS(MD)93/2020 NI – Updated JCVI Advice on COVID-19 Vaccine interval – 30/1/20

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RCOG – COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy

https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/

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Public Health Agency Updates

PHA – Professional guidance and information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

Infection control guidance for adult COVID-19 vaccination clinics

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Other NI Organisations

Advice for patients of the Northern Ireland Regional Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, regarding the COVID 19 intramuscular vaccination

Communication / Public FAQs

The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook : This project tracks behavioural science evidence and advice about COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

BSI – A guide to vaccinations for COVID19

HSCB is maintaining a FAQ for the public regarding the GP COVID-19 vaccine rollout and you may find this helpful where patients have questions. The link is http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination-programme/.

The PHA also have some helpful FAQs for the public at https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus/northern-ireland-covid-19-vaccination-programme/covid-19-vaccination-programme

 

Yellow Card

Report suspected side effects to medicines, vaccines or medical device and diagnostic adverse incidents used in coronavirus treatment to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to ensure safe and effective use

MHRA weekly summary / analysis of yellow card reporting data (09/12/2020 to 24/01/2021).

Pharmacy Information

Community Pharmacy Vaccination

GP Update Community Pharmacy Vaccination – 31/03/21

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HSS(MD) 2 2021 – DEPLOYMENT OF COVID-19 VACCINE OXFORD – ASTRAZENECA

Governance, Handling & Preparation in GP

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Specialist Pharmacy Service – COVID Vaccine Hub

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Suitability for COVID-19 vaccination based on prior allergy or current dietary practices

Using COVID-19 vaccines in patient taking immunosuppressive medicines

MHRA COVID-19 Resource Page

MHRA response to Irish authorities’ action to temporarily suspend the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine

Additional UK Resources

PHE: COVID-19 Vaccination : Information for Healthcare Practitioners

intended for healthcare staff involved in delivering the programme. It includes detailed information on:

  • the background of the programme
  • the vaccines (as they become available)
  • vaccine recommendations and eligibility
  • contraindications and precautions
  • vaccine administration issues

GOV.UK Resource Page : https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/covid-19-vaccination-programme 

Training Resources

COVID-19 Vaccination Training

All vaccinators must be registered health care professionals.  Health care assistants may support vaccinators including post vaccination observation but may not administer the vaccine as part of this service.

All vaccinators should complete the COVID-19 vaccinator competency assessment tool  Any training needs identified by the COVID-19 vaccinator competency assessment tool should be addressed.  Copies of the assessments should be held in the practice.  Additional training and information is available on the PHA website.

All vaccinators should complete the e-learning for health module on COVID-19. 

Anaphylaxis

HSS-MD-85-2020-ADRENALINE-FOR-ANAPHYLAXIS-KITS-A-REMINDER-TO-HEALTH-CARE-PROFESSIONALS

RCUK’s expert anaphylaxis group is currently updating the anaphylaxis guidelines for 2021. In light of the current mass vaccination programme they have provided updated information for use in any vaccination setting to give clear guidance to healthcare professionals involved. We have also produced a poster of the algorithm for the management of anaphylaxis in the vaccination setting.

Running a vaccination clinic

Larger or offsite clinics

Our colleagues in regional emergency planning want to ensure that the emergency services, DfI Roads and councils are aware of the locations of larger or off-site COVID-19 vaccination clinics in case there are steps that can be taken to aid the clinics or if you need emergency assistance, for example:

o   If you need to seek help from NIAS e.g. anaphylaxis

o   If you need to seek help from PSNI re traffic issues or other problems

o   So DfI Roads can consider their winter gritting programme in these areas

HSCB would be grateful if you would let your PSM know as soon as possible please about any large or off-site clinics being planned

COVID-19 VaccinationHSC Updates

COVID-19 vaccine type 2023/24 – Transition from BA.4.5 to XBB.1.5

The latest variant vaccine (Comirnaty XBB.1.5) is now available and the PGD for thisvaccine has been issued to providers (this can be found on GP and CommunityPharmacy intranets). Vaccine ordered from 27th September will be fulfilled using XBB.1.5. This vaccine can be used as soon as it is received by providers. To ensure a smooth transition from one vaccine to the other, providers can useBA.4.5 if they do not have XBB.1.5 stock available up until 8th October. If both areavailable, XBB.1.5...

Clinical ResourcesCOVID-19 VaccinationHSC UpdatesPrescribing

COVID-19 Autumn Booster Information HUB

The JCVI advised that for the 2023 autumn programme, the following groups should be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine: All residents and staff in a care home All adults aged 65 and over Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined inchapters 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book) Frontline health and social care workers Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression (as defined in the Green Book). Persons aged...

Clinical ResourcesCOVID 19COVID-19 VaccinationGP COVID-19 Info

COVID-19 AUTUMN/WINTER BOOSTER VACCINATION PROGRAMME 2023

The COVID-19 vaccination programme will therefore commence in Northern Ireland on 18 September 2023 to ensure that those most at risk from winterillness i.e. people in care homes, the clinically vulnerable, everyone aged 65 and over, frontline health and social care staff, and carers, will be able to accessa COVID-19 vaccine. The annual influenza vaccine will also be made available to these groups to ensure they are protected against flu ahead of winter.   To optimise protection over the...