Welcoming the new national vaccination strategy in NEL

This week NHS England launched the new national vaccination strategy. The strategy brings together all vaccination programmes, for the first time, to protect communities and save lives. The strategy is for all people and organisations involved in the commissioning, planning and delivery of NHS vaccination services in England. It will shape the future delivery of NHS vaccination and immunisation services nationally and in the ICB.

Many of the priorities mentioned in the strategy build on what we have been doing so well in north east London. In particular the drive to vaccinate people in convenient local places, with targeted outreach to support uptake in underserved populations. We know that the national NHS has looked at the many ways we in north east London and other areas have made it easy for people to take up the vaccination offer, with sites at GP practices and pharmacies as well as shopping centres and community centres, alongside bespoke services for under-served communities, and want to replicate this nationally. 

The strategy also emphasises the need for a more joined-up prevention and vaccination offer offering multiple vaccinations for the whole family where appropriate, including covid and flu alongside, for example, opportunistic MMR and HPV catch up and wider health advice and interventions such as blood pressure, diabetes and heart checks. This is an approach championed by many of our GPs and PCNs. 

Finally, NHS England wants more people to be able to book their vaccines online quickly and easily, including via the NHS App. Families will be able to view their full vaccination record with clear information and guidance on what vaccinations they should have to keep them well. 

As an ICB we look forward to working to deliver this strategy alongside our own and we would like to thank you for your commitment to vaccinations, your innovation and your resilience over the last few years. This was especially evident as we have rolled out the Covid vaccination programme, as well as catch up programmes for Polio and MMR vaccines. We will continue to update you on the progress of our strategy in the new year and please have a good break over the Christmas holidays. 

Dr Muhammad Waqqas Naqvi
GP and Clinical Lead for Immunisations
NHS North East London

 Moira Coughlan
Deputy Director of Immunisation and Screening
NHS North East London