The PSNC has warned contractors to ensure they are administering the correct flu vaccines to the right patient group having received reports of errors being made. 

The negotiator said there have been “cases” where the egg-cultured quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVe) has been given to patients in the 65-and-over age group.

This group is supposed to receive the aQIV (adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza) or QIVr, (recombinantquadrivalent influenza) vaccine and if those are not available, the QIVc (cell-based quadrivalent influenza) vaccine.

The PSNC said it appeared mistakes were made “due to data input errors” and reminded contractors there is “no provision” in the NHS flu vaccination service for using the QIVe vaccine in patients aged 65 and over.

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised it is not an effective intervention for patients aged 65 years and over,” the PSNC said, pointing contractors to a poster on the UK Health Security Agency website outlining which vaccines should be given to particular patient groups.

Urging contractors to consider displaying the poster in their consultation room, the PSNC said: “When a vaccine is selected, an additional check could be made against the poster to ensure the correct vaccine has been selected for the patient, depending on the cohort they fall into.”