Covid-19 Coronavirus

Seasonal Flu

2020-2021 Isle of Man Programme Delivery 

Thank you for all the hard work everyone is doing as part of the local response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

It is more important than ever that we have effective plans in place for the 2020/21 flu season to protect those at risk, prevent ill-health and minimise further impact on the health service and social care.

We recognise that delivering the flu immunisation programme is likely to be more challenging because of the impact of COVID-19 on our health and social care services. 

The Winter Flu Programme helps to reduce GP consultations, unplanned hospital admissions and pressure on the Emergency Department and is therefore a critical element of the system-wide approach for delivering robust and resilient health and care services during the winter season.

As you know there is no island-wide surveillance of influenza data and we all rely on good communication between practitioners to help alert us to circulating diseases. We must therefore guard against complacency and continue to improve vaccine uptake rates. As usual we should strive to further improve vaccine uptake rates in all eligible cohorts.

Eligible Groups entitled to receive a free flu vaccine:

  • pregnant

or have a long term condition such as:

  • a heart problem
  • a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
  • a kidney disease
  • lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
  • liver disease
  • had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
  • diabetes
  • a neurological condition, eg multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy
  • a learning disability
  • a problem with your spleen, eg sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
  • are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above)

People described as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ for COVID-19 are all eligible for a free flu vaccine and it is really important this year that they receive it.

This list of conditions isn’t definitive. It’s always an issue of clinical judgement.

A GP can assess and take into account the risk of flu making any underlying illness worse, as well as risks of serious illness from flu itself.

For detailed local guidance on the 2020-2021 programme please refer to:

The Influenza chapter of the Green Book provides detailed descriptions of eligible groups and guidance for healthcare workers on administering the flu vaccine.

Children 2-3 years of age

The DHSC are pleased to announce that GP practices will deliver the childhood flu vaccine to children aged 2-3 years.

Payments for the delivery have been agreed and communicated with all GP Practice by the DHSC Primary Care Directorate, if you have any queries please contact your normal vaccination lead.

Please ensure that your GP practice has order enough vaccines to covering the needs for those registered with your practice falling into this age group.

For further details visit: www.gov.im/flu

Also see:

Children Reception to 10 years: School vaccination programme

The DHSC, Primary Care Directorate, School Nursing Team will deliver a school vaccination programme to school children from Reception through to Year 6 in all island primary schools for the first time this Autumn. 

For further information on the delivery of this programme see www.gov.im/schoolflu

For parent advice see: www.gov.im/childhoodflu

Also see: 

65+, Pregnancy, and at Risk Groups

People who are eligible for the flu vaccine this year include:

  • adults aged 65 and over
  • adults aged 18 to 64 with a long term health condition
  • pregnant women
  • carers
  • morbidly obese people

For further details visit: www.gov.im/flu

Also see Winter 2020-21: The Flu Vaccination Who should have it and why information leaflet.

Vaccination of Frontline Staff

The DHSC will continue to support the vaccination of Frontline Staff as part of the 2020-2021 Flu Vaccination Programme.

For more details on this programme please see www.gov.im/frontlineflu

Vaccination training for Staff

Please ensure that all health professionals involved with the delivery of this year’s programme have completed the following training modules:

  • 2020-2021 Annual Flu training programme 
    (this has to be completed even if you have only just completed 2019-2020 training)
  • Emergency Treatment of Anaphylactic Reactions e-Module
  • Intramuscular Injection training

External Health Professionals
NHS Health Education England.

Government Employees
eLearn Vannin - Government employees 

Guidance, Leaflets and print materials

Resources are now available for reference, download and print for display and issue purposes as follows:

For Health Professionals

Guidance for Health Professionals

Guidance for Head teachers and School Flu Vaccination Programme Delivery

Guidance for Peer Vaccinators and where staff can receive a vaccination 

See separate drop down menu for supporting print materials.

Posters for the Public

Public information

Information on Groups entitled to receive this year’s flu vaccines

School Vaccination Programme: Information for parents

Details on the new primary school vaccination programme. Includes details on providing consent and what parents of those home schooling need to do to receive a vaccine. It also provides details on the planned school delivery dates.

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