Last review date 01/09/2023
IMPORTANT: The eligibility as defined in the Green Book for seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccines is similar but not identical. This has resulted in differences between the underlying code-sets which are used in the Ardens reports for both. This means that whilst you may think some patients should be included in both the seasonal influenza and COVID-19 invitation reports, some patients might just be included in the seasonal influenza invitation reports but not the COVID-19 invitations reports, and vice versa. Some practices may be planning to give both vaccinations concurrently if clinically appropriate.
We are aware that some practices may be planning joint clinics , but the patient would still need separate Flu and COVID invitations, even if they are booked into a single joint clinic. The invitation wording for each vaccine could refer to the possibility of administering both but the individual patient’s eligibility and suitability for either / both vaccinations should be checked prior to vaccination.
COVID Autumn Vaccinations
NHS England recently updated guidance for the COVID-19 Autumn /Winter 2023-24 programme bringing forward the dates from October to September:
To maximise and extend protection during the winter the following schedule is to be followed;
- 11th September - vaccination can start for care home residents and those who are housebound to ensure all residents are vaccinated before 22nd October 2023
- 11th September - COVID-19 and flu vaccinations can commence via Local Booking Systems, for those eligible, starting with those who are most at risk including those who are immunosuppressed
- 18 September - all other eligible patients via the National Booking System
In summary, the eligible groups for the COVID-19 Spring Booster are as follows:
- Residents in a care home
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
- Frontline health & social care workers
- Aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Aged 16 to 64 years who are carers
1. Patient Status Alert
There is a patient status alert to indicate eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccination. Eligible patients will have this icon under their name. Clicking this will open the COVID Vaccination template.
- Consider COVID-19 Vaccination: Autumn 2023
2. Vaccination Template
The COVID-19 vaccination template has the following;
- A view to show vaccination eligibility and previous vaccination history
- An assessment questionnaire
- An electronic PSD and paper PSD
- Data entry options to record codes including invitations, contraindications, refusals and consent
- A resources page with links to various useful websites
The assessment questionnaire can also be completed by patients themselves on either Airmid or SystmOnline.
To configure this for Airmid, go to 'Setup > Data Entry > Questionnaires'. Find the 'COVID-19 Vaccination Assessment Questionnaire'. Then right-click and copy this questionnaire, click ok and then right-click > publish to 'Patient Apps User' group. This will then appear as a survey for the patient to complete.
3. Clinical Reports - Autumn 2023
All of the COVID vaccination reports can be found by going to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations'.
3.1 Clinical Reports - Review Before
Go to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 01 Review before'. These reports can be used as data quality and are worth looking at before your booster vaccination invitations are sent out from your practice.
3.2 Clinical Reports - Cohorts
Go to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 02 Autumn 2023 | Cohorts'. These cohort reports meet the requirements of the latest Guidance. The cohort numbers will not reduce when vaccinations are given and have no exclusions applied. These reports should not be used for invitations.
3.3 Clinical Reports - Eligible
Go to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 03 Autumn 2023 | Eligible'. These reports have exclusions applied and the numbers will reduce as vaccinations are given. Here you will find a useful breakdown of all of your eligible patients by age group etc. These patients will have had their last dose more than 3 months ago and will include patients who are housebound which are excluded from the invitation reports. The eligible reports should not be used for invitations.
3.4 Clinical Reports - Invitations
Go to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 04 Autumn 2023 | Invitation'. These reports have exclusions applied and the numbers will reduce as vaccinations are given. Here you will find a useful breakdown of all of your patients who had their last dose more than 3 months ago and are eligible for vaccination now by age groups.
There are two reports at the top of this that can be used to identify patients who are eligible for both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccination. These reports will allow your organisation to decide whether to send two separate invitations for each vaccine type or a single invitation. Please see our Joint Flu and COVID Clinic support article for more information.
3.5 Clinical Reports - Invitations C19 and Flu
Go to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 04 Autumn 2023 | Invitation C19 and Flu'. This folder contains two reports that can be used to identify patients who are eligible for both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccination. These reports will allow your organisation to decide whether to send two separate invitations for each vaccine type or a single invitation. Please see our Joint Flu and COVID Clinic support article for more information.
3.6 Clinical Reports - Visits
Go to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 05 Autumn 2023 | Visits'. Here you will see reports for residential care home and housebound patients. Care home residents qualify for both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccination. Housebound patients may qualify for either or both vaccines and you will see we have provided three separate reports to allow you to manage your housebound patients more efficiently.
3.7 Clinical Reports - Activity
Go to 'Reporting > Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 06 Activity | All'. Here you will see activity reports for COVID Autumn vaccinations by age groups and those declined or contraindicated.
Foot Note
The COVID-19 vaccination resources have all now been published in accordance with the latest NHS England guidance the JCVI Guidance and the Green Book.
Following the changes to MHRA Guidance, patients with a history of anaphylaxis or an anaphylactoid reaction, or patients who have had an adrenaline auto-injector issued ever were originally excluded from the eligibility and invitation reports but are now included. Further reporting changes will be made should the guidance change. However, there is still a report to identify these patients under 'Clinical Reporting > Ardens > Vaccinations > C19 I 01 Review before > For review before ordering and invitations | ?Eligible but review as anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reaction or adrenaline autoinjector issued'.