Screening and Vaccination Leadership bulletin.
1. Update on guidance for general practice on the coding and recording of the RSV monoclonal antibody immunisation product Palivizumab – FOR INFORMATION
NHSE communicated guidance and codes to be adopted for recording of the RSV monoclonal antibody immunisation – Palivizumab w/c 09/12/2024. It has since been reported that the procedure code provided is not currently available to EMIS GPIT system users and the following update is provided in response:
- The procedure code 117089007 – Administration of Respiratory Syncytial virus immune globulin, human (procedure) has been confirmed as not currently available for selection by EMIS GPIT system users, the EMIS system supplier have been informed that this procedure code is now required and plan to make it available as part of monthly system updates during February 2025.
- Since there are limited appropriate SNOMED procedure codes for the RSV passive immunisation programme and the programme has passed its peak activity levels, NHSE are not advising an interim coding solution and suggest that coding and recording is resumed by EMIS users when the RSV monoclonal antibody immunisation procedure code becomes available.
- NHSE have received a query on the coding and recording of RSV monoclonal antibody given in other countries where Nirsevimab is the preferred product. Nirsevimab is not used in the UK and there is no drug code available on SNOMED, so for movers in who received this, the RSV antibody procedure code should be adopted and for EMIS users, adopted when this becomes available in the coming weeks.
| Programme | Procedure Name | Procedure code – SNOMED |
| NHS RSV Passive Immunisation Programme | Administration of Respiratory Syncytial virus immune globulin, human (procedure) | 117089007 |
2. Change of vaccine brand for the pre-school booster diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and polio (dTaP/IPV) vaccination – FOR ACTION
The vaccine brand used for the pre-school booster diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and polio (dTaP/IPV) vaccination is changing from Boostrix-IPV® to REPEVAX®. These vaccines are clinically equivalent and should continue to be offered to children at 3 years 4 months of age, and up to 10 years of age to those who have not yet received it. Providers should continue to order and administer Boostrix-IPV® until availability on ImmForm and local stockholdings are depleted.
UKHSA expects to make REPEVAX® vaccine available to order via ImmForm from spring 2025. High-level ordering controls will be in place to reduce the risk of ordering errors only. These are not intended to restrict activity.
REPEVAX® vaccine ordered via ImmForm will be supplied as a single dose pack, containing one pre-filled syringe of vaccine and a patient information leaflet (PIL). Please note the pack does not contain a needle for administration. Guidance on the choice of needle size can be found here – Green-Book-Chapter-4.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk). Needles and syringes should be obtained locally.
Providers should add REPEVAX® to their routine ImmForm order where possible, rather than creating additional orders.
To minimise wastage due to fridge failures, Providers are asked not to order more than 2 weeks’ worth of stock.
Details about the pre-school booster dTaP/IPV vaccination programme is published in the Green Book – Green Book Chapter 24 – Pertussis.
Further details about REPEVAX® vaccine can be found here – REPEVAX – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc)
Providers should contact the helpdesk@immform.org.uk for ordering queries.
Please contact the London Imms Team directly with any queries at england.londonimms@nhs.net