The service specification and patient group direction (PGD) for the community pharmacy Flu Vaccination Advanced Service 2017/18 have been published.

The documents explain what community pharmacy contractors need to do to offer the service, including how to confirm that their premises are appropriate, pharmacist training and declaration of competence requirements, data capture and sharing of information, vaccine storage, gaining patient consent, GP notification and claiming payments.

Publication of the service specification and the PGD means that contractors and pharmacy teams now have further information on the service to use in finalising their preparations for provision of the service and these documents should be read alongside PSNC’s detailed guidance on the service.

However, contractors will not be able to begin providing the service and vaccinating patients until amendments to The Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2013 (the Directions), which provide the legal basis for provision of the service, have been made. Confirmation from the NHS on this is expected in the next couple of days and contractors are advised to check the PSNC website regularly for the latest updates and further information about the service.