A reminder that since 1 February 2018, pregnant women attending BHRUT hospitals for their antenatal care are able to get pertussis and seasonal influenza vaccinations from their maternity units, amid the roll-out of the London maternity vaccinations pilots that are currently taking place. The service will initially roll-out from King George Hospital and then to Queens.
Women will still be able to receive influenza vaccinations from pharmacies and their influenza and pertussis vaccinations from their GP if they wish. The aim is to increase uptake by extending access, as women will often attend antenatal appointments, but are less likely to make an additional appointment with their GP or seek out a pharmacy.
As this is a pilot, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring complete vaccination status of pregnant women remains with GP practices. Therefore, practices should continue to invite pregnant women for vaccinations who are without vaccination status recorded.
The maternity unit will send practices email confirmation of vaccinations and in addition document it in the antenatal page of the hand held maternity notes as practices are doing already.
For any queries please contact ENGLAND.londonimms@nhs.net
740