Read our guidance on what the programme involves, what is expected of practices, funding and what you need to do now.
The national arrangements for providing vaccines are set out in the additional services section of the SFE (statement of financial entitlements).
Those vaccines that are provided as enhanced services will have their arrangements outlined in their respective service specifications.
Seasonal Influenza Programme 2023/24
The enhanced service specification for the seasonal flu programme has now been published by NHS England and can be found at the link below.
Practices should be aware that the timeframe for claiming payment for flu vaccinations has been reduced from six months to three months.
Whilst practices may wish to co-administer flu vaccinations with COVID vaccinations (where the practice is signed up to the COVID vaccination programme and where co-administration is clinically appropriate) this is not a requirement.
Following the acceleration of the Covid vaccination programme, the flu programme will now formally start on 11 September 2023. However, practices are able to continue with any clinics planned for before that start date, as previously confirmed by NHS England.
The specifications for the adult and childhood flu programmes, respectively, can be found below, alongside the 2023 flu letter:
Adult flu programme enhanced service specification.
Childhood flu programme enhanced service specification.
The annual flu letter for the 2023/24 flu programme
Changes to GMS vaccination programmes for 2023/24
There are a number of changes to HPV and Shingles vaccination programmes for 23/24, which are due to come into force from 1 September 2023.
HPV
From 1 September 2023, the routine adolescent HPV programme will change from a two-dose to a one-dose HPV programme for those aged 14 to 25 years in line with JCVI recommendations and to align with the school’s programme.
However, individuals who are immunocompromised and those known to be HIV positive should remain on the three-dose schedule.
Provision through general practice remains opportunistic or on request and eligibility remains up to 25 years of age for girls born after 1 September 1991 and boys born after 1 September 2006.
Shingles
From 1 September 2023 Zostavax will begin to be replaced with the 2 dose Shingrix vaccine and the cohorts for the Shingles Vaccination Programme will be expanded to include immunocompetent from 60 years, and immunocompromised from 50 years, in line with JCVI recommendations.
2-dose Shingrix vaccine for the current 70-79-year-old cohort with a period of 26 weeks to 52 weeks between doses following the depletion of Zostavax.
NHSE states that practices should replace Zostavax with Shingrix as Zostavax stock depletes.
The expansion of the immunocompetent cohort will be implemented over two five-year stages as follows:
- first five-year stage (1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028): Shingrix will be offered to those turning 70 and those turning 65 years of age in each of the five years as they become eligible.
- second five-year stage (1 September 2028 to 31 August 2033): Shingrix will be offered to those turning 65 and those turning 60 years of age in each of the five years as they become eligible.
Practice call/recall for the immunocompromised and immunocompetent cohorts as they become eligible for the programme will be implemented from 1 September 2023, as well as catch-up call/recall for the newly eligible immunocompromised 50-69-year-old cohort.
It is expected that NHSE will provide further information on the programme changes and management of the immunocompetent cohort expansion in due course
Routine childhood vaccinations
| Age | Disease | Vaccination |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) and hepatitis B | DtaP/IPV/Hib/HepB |
| Meningococcal group b (MenB) | MenB | |
| Rotavirus gastroenteritis | Rotavirus | |
| 12 weeks | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) and hepatitis B | DtaP/IPV/Hib/HepB |
| Pneumococcal (13 serotypes) | PCV | |
| Rotavirus | Rotavirus | |
| 16 weeks | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (hib) and hepatitis B | DtaP/IPV/Hib/HepB |
| MenB | MenB | |
| 1 year (on or after baby's first birthday) | Hib and MenC | Hib/MenC (combined) |
| Pneumococcal | PCV booster | |
| Measles, mumps and rubella | MMR | |
| MenB | MenB booster | |
| 3 years 4 months or soon after | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio | DtaP/IPV |
| Measles, mumps and rubella | MMR | |
| 14 years | Tetanus, diphtheria and polio | Td/IPV |
Adult routine immunisations
| Age | Disease | Vaccination |
|---|---|---|
| 2-64 years (in a clinical at risk group) | Pneumococcal (23 serotypes) | PPV |
| 50-69 years catch-up (immunocompromised) from 1 September 2023 | Shingles | Shingles |
| 65 years | Pneumococcal (23 serotypes) | PPV |
| 70 years (routine) From 1 September 2023, this will include those turning 70 and those turning 65, respectively, as they become eligible | Shingles | Shingles |
| 78-79 years (catch-up) | Shingles | Shingles |
Selective immunisations
| Age | Disease | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|
| At birth, 4 weeks | Babies born to hepatitis B infected mothers | Hepatitis B (Engerix B/HBvacPRO) |
| 12 months | Babies born to hepatitis B infected mothers | Hepatitis B (Engerix B/HBvacPRO) |
| Pregnant women from 16 weeks of pregnancy | Pertussis | dTaP/IPV (Boostrix-IPV or Repavax) |
Other vaccination programmes
| Age | Disease | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|
| 14 to 24 years (catch-up, where not administered under the schools programme) | Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y disease (completing dose) | MenACWY |
| 14 to 24 years (catch-up, where not administered under the schools programme) | HPV (human papillomavirus) types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11) (completing dose) | HPV |
| 16 years and over | Measles, mumps and rubella | MMR |