Flu Vaccination: Use of Second-line Vaccine

In light of strong patient demand for flu vaccination, we’d like to remind pharmacy teams about the requirements for using second-line flu vaccines.

The service specification states that in the event a pharmacy doesn’t have the recommended flu vaccine in stock, patients should first be directed to another provider with stock or asked to rebook.

Second-line vaccines must only be considered in exceptional circumstances, such as when first-line vaccines aren’t available locally. You should keep a record of checks made to establish local vaccine availability before offering an alternative.