Numark encourages take-up for pneumonia vaccination service
The independent support group says it will use data from the 12-month pilot to make the case for a national service
Numark is encouraging its members to deliver a pneumonia vaccination service.
The 12-month pilot of the private service launched at the start of this month, and the anonymous data generated will be used to make the case for a national service, the independent support group said yesterday (November 25).
Numark members will have free access to a patient group directive (PGD) to deliver the service, in return for recording their consultation data onto the PharmaOutcomes platform, it said.
The service will involve giving patients two vaccinations: a conjugate vaccine and a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, Numark said. It is up to pharmacists to decide how much they charge for the service (see right), it told C+D.
Flu service "set a precedent"
Numark information pharmacist Michael Stewart said the national pharmacy flu service “set a precedent" and shows pharmacists are “more than capable of taking on new clinical roles and can contribute significantly to public health targets”.
“This is not the time to rest on our laurels. The influenza vaccine is just one component of the [government's] vaccination schedule, so why stop there?” he added.
Pharmacists must meet certain requirements before they can offer the service, including completing Numark's free pneumonia e-learning modules, it said.
Those interested in providing the service should visit the Numark website to complete an online registration form or call Michael Stewart on 0800 783 5709, Numark added.
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