Frequently Asked Questions

Influenza vaccination season

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• What must I do in the event of a fridge failure?

  
  
  The National Immunisation Office (NIO) has issued the following advice in relation to this issue: Influenza vaccines must be stored between +2°C and +8°C. The NIO advise that should a temperature excursion, fridge breakdown, or power failure happen, quarantine the vaccines immediately at +2 °C to +8 °C and contact one of the NIO pharmacists at achal.gupta@hse.ie, mariangela.toma@hse.ie or cliona.kiersey@hse.ie. Do not use or dispose of the vaccines until advised by the National Immunisation Office.
  In addition, the following resources may be helpful:
  

  • HSE Guidelines for maintenance of cold-chain in vaccine fridges and management of vaccine stock
  • Recommendations for maintenance of Vaccine Fridge within Temperature during a Planned Power-cut
  • HSE Cold Chain/Fridge Breakdown/Power failure form
  • 30 minute e-learning module Storing and Managing Vaccines available on www.hseland.ie

• Can a nurse administer influenza vaccinations on behalf of a pharmacist in a retail pharmacy business premises?

  
  

  No. Under Regulation 4B of the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, (as amended) the authority to supply and administer a vaccine in a retail pharmacy business, without a prescription, is solely vested to an appropriately trained registered pharmacist.

  
  

  Information regarding the entitlements of a nursing practitioner to administer vaccinations as an independent practitioner may be best sought from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.

• How do I register my pharmacy with the National Cold Chain Service to order vaccines?

  
  

  Information is provided by the HSE about the National Cold Chain Service.

• Is the Parenteral Medicines Training Course (PAMT) valid indefinitely?

  
  

  The Parenteral Administration of Medicines Training Course (PAMT) is not valid indefinitely. The PSI’s guidance on this is as follows:

  
  

  Pharmacists are asked to reflect, self-assess and to evaluate whether they need to refresh their training in this programme, in order to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to safely deliver the associated medicines or vaccination service.

  
  

  The PSI requires that this training programme is repeated if a pharmacist wishes to administer: a vaccine or emergency medicine via an injection route i.e. intramuscular or subcutaneous, which they have never previously administered; or a vaccine or emergency medicine via an injection route which they have neither practised (i.e. administered to a patient) nor been trained in the previous 12 months (or in the case of seasonal influenza vaccination, in the previous flu season).

  
  

  Please note that ‘trained in’ refers to training in the Medicines Administration (Parenteral) Training Programme.

  
  

  Therefore there are times where the training may need to be repeated throughout the pharmacist’s career.

• Am I allowed to advertise vaccination services in my pharmacy?

  
  

  A pharmacy may highlight the availability of a vaccination service provided by that pharmacy, to their patients and members of the public. This can include the display of factual information in relation to the pharmacy vaccination service. It must not include the name of a specific vaccine.

  
  

  All vaccines are licensed as prescription-only medicines and the advertising of prescription-only medicines to the general public is not permitted by the Medicinal Products (Control of Advertising) Regulations 2007.

• Can I deliver a vaccination service on my pharmacy premises, outside the trading hours of the pharmacy that I have a vaccination service on my pharmacy premises, outside the trading hours of the pharmacy that I have notified to the PSI?

  
  

  Yes. Pharmacies can provide a vaccination services at the registered pharmacy premises, outside of the normal opening hours, provided a registered pharmacist is present on site at all times. Pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists planning a vaccination service outside the normal opening hours of the pharmacy should ensure appropriate security is in place to safeguard their staff members and ensure patients and members of the public do not have access to the dispensary or other areas that medicines are kept.

• How do I go about adding a second patient consultation area to the floor plans of my pharmacy in anticipation of increased vaccination service delivery this year?

  
  

  If you wish to add a second patient consultation area to your pharmacy floor plan, you can send the PSI a copy of the updated floor plans in advance of commencing any works, outlining the changes that are to be made to the original floor plan. Pharmacies can make certain changes to their registration details using the online registration portal.
  
  We will review these floorplans on a case-by-case basis and advise if it will be necessary to complete a Material Change Form and/or pay an associated fee.

• Can I deliver influenza vaccination services at locations offsite from the registered pharmacy premises?

  
  

  Yes. In October 2020, legislation was amended to permit appropriately trained pharmacists to supply and administer the influenza vaccine at any suitable and appropriate place (i.e. within or offsite from the retail pharmacy business premises) having regard to public convenience and the need to protect the health and safety of the public. This includes the influenza vaccine suspension for injection presented as a pre-filled syringe, and the influenza vaccine nasal spray, suspension.

  
  

  Any influenza vaccination service provided offsite under this legislation must be carried out in connection with a named registered retail pharmacy business, in which the vaccinating pharmacist is employed or engaged. The PSI has published guidance to support this practice extension.

• Can a pharmacist administer an influenza vaccine to a patient in their car?

  
  

  Legislation permits an appropriately trained pharmacist to supply and administer the influenza vaccine suspension for injection presented as a pre-filled syringe and the influenza vaccine nasal spray, suspension, at any suitable and appropriate place (i.e. within or offsite from the retail pharmacy business premises) having regard to the public convenience and the need to protect the health and safety of the public.

  
  

  Your choice of location should include a risk assessment to assure patient safety and the same high standard of care as would be provided on the pharmacy premises. Whether delivery of an influenza vaccination to a patient in a car is safe, suitable and appropriate will, as for any proposed location, depend on a number of considerations.

  
  

  We have published guidance to help you in considering what types of location are appropriate, and to support pharmacies in providing safe influenza vaccination services offsite from the pharmacy premises. There are a number of checklists included in the guidance and key points for consideration. Current PSI guidance which supports the provision of a pharmacy vaccination service in the pharmacy will still apply and must be read and adapted to the chosen setting. Any potential offsite location should also be viewed in the context of the current national COVID-19 response and recommendations from the Department of Health, Health Service Executive and Health Protection and Surveillance Centre.

  
  

  Patients should have advance notice of the location and nature of the off-site vaccination site. As is the case with all vaccination services, both the patient and pharmacist should be satisfied that the given setting is appropriate for the individual patient.

• Can a 5th year pharmacy student complete training during their undergraduate year to enable them to supply and administer vaccines once registered with the PSI?

  
  

  The legislation sets out that only a registered pharmacist who has received a certificate confirming that they have completed the mandatory training accredited by PSI, can supply and administer vaccines (and epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis) to their patients.

  
  

  Five training programmes need to be completed in order for a registered pharmacist to deliver influenza vaccination services. However, two of these programmes may be completed by a student prior to registration. Details of the training requirements are explained on the PSI website.

  
  

  If you are a 5th year pharmacy student, you can complete the Parenteral Administration of Medicines Training Course (PAMT), which is accredited by the PSI and available through Hibernian Healthcare prior to registration with the PSI. Contact Hibernian Healthcare by e-mail and they will set up an account to allow you to book a training course. Hibernian Healthcare will provide certification regarding completion of the course once you have supplied evidence of registration with the PSI.

  
  

  Training in CPR (adults and children) can also be completed in advance of registering with the PSI.

  In addition and in order to provide a vaccination service, there are three remaining mandatory online training programmes which must be completed and can be accessed through the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) website once you are registered with PSI (you must have a PSI registration number to login to the IIOP website).

  When all the relevant training courses have been completed and you are registered with the PSI you can take part in a vaccination service.