Influenza Knowledge Transfer Series

An online environment designed to promote, educate and share information about the burden of seasonal influenza in an older adult population for health care professionals in the United Kingdom.

Physician
Nurse

Free Accredited Online CPD for Physician

Physician Program on Seasonal Influenza Immunisation: Strategies for Older Adults

Physician 1.0 Credits 1 hour Cost: Free

This program is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists.

This online e-Learning program is accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

This program addresses national issues in influenza immunisation in the UK for adults age 65 years and older, with the aim of supporting optimal decision-making in clinical practice for general practitioners.

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Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

Describe burden of influenza in adults aged 65 and older.
List the vaccine options available for seasonal influenza immunisation of adults aged 65 and older.
Differentiate vaccine products approved for seasonal influenza in adults aged 65 and older.
Effectively counsel older adult patients about the importance of seasonal influenza vaccination.

Planning Committee

George Kassianos, FRCGP, FBIHS, FESC, FBGTHA, FAcadMEd, FFTM RCPS Glasg
Roger Henderson, MBBS, LMSSA
Pauline MacDonald, ARRC, SRN, BSc (Hons), MSc

International Contributors

William Schaffner, MD
Paul Van Buynder, MBBS, MPH, FAFPHM
Shelly McNeil, MD, FRCPC

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Free Accredited Online CPD for Nurse

Seasonal Influenza Immunisation in UK for Nurses: Strategies for Older Adults

Nurse 1.0 Credits 1 hour Cost: Free

This programme has been accredited by the RCN Centre for Professional Accreditation. Accreditation applies only to the educational content of the programme and does not apply to any product. The RCN cannot confirm competence of any practitioner.

Nurses have a major role in advising and promoting immunisation. This programme addresses national issues in influenza immunisation for adults age 65 years and older, with the aim of supporting nurses in optimal decision-making in clinical practice.

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Enter Nurse Program

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

Describe the influenza vaccination types developed for older adults and their relative mechanisms.
Select the most appropriate influenza vaccination type(s) for older adults.
Effectively counsel older adult patients about the importance of seasonal influenza vaccination.

Planning Committee

Pauline MacDonald, ARRC, SRN , BSc (Hons), MSc
George Kassianos, FRCGP, FBIHS, FESC, FBGTHA, FAcadMEd, FFTM RCPS Glasg
Roger Henderson, MBBS, LMSSA

International Contributors

William Schaffner, MD
Paul Van Buynder, MBBS, MPH, FAFPHM
Shelly McNeil, MD, FRCPC

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Video Resources

Subject experts discuss key questions in seasonal influenza and immunisation. Main topics include considerations and challenges for vaccination in the older adult population, what to say to skeptical patients, and answers to other commonly asked questions.

Are all the flu vaccines the same?

Pauline MacDonald, ARRC, SRN, BSc (Hons), MSc

How do you advise patients who are hesitant about receiving flu vaccination?

George Kassianos, FRCGP, FBIHS, FESC, FBGTHA, FAcadMEd, FFTM RCPS Glasg

How can I best protect my older adult patients against influenza?

George Kassianos, FRCGP, FBIHS, FESC, FBGTHA, FAcadMEd, FFTM RCPS Glasg

Resources

National and international influenza immunisation guidelines, facts and tools available for practical application.

The Green Book.

The Green Book has the latest information on vaccine preventable infectious diseases in the UK.

Annual Flu Reports.

The Public Health England annually publishes reports on influenza surveillance results from the winter season.

NHS Choices: Who Should Have the Flu Jab?

Read up on those who are at increased risk and qualify to receive a free flu vaccine in the UK.

Publications

International and UK research outlining health related information on influenza in the older adult population and its associated comorbidites. Various topics, historical data and longitudinal studies are examined, providing the latest in evidence and protocols.

Efficacy and immunogenicity of high-dose influenza vaccine in older adults by age, comorbidities, and frailty.

DiazGranados CA, Dunning AJ, Robertson CA, Talbot HK, Landolfi V, Greenberg DP.

Abstract

A randomized trial demonstrated that a high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV-HD) was 24.2% more efficacious than a standard-dose vaccine (IIV-SD) against laboratory-confirmed influenza illness in adults ≥65 years.

Comparison of the safety and immunogenicity of an MF59®-adjuvanted with a non-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine in elderly subjects.

Adjuvanted influenza vaccines can overcome the poor antibody response of conventional non-adjuvanted vaccines in the elderly.
Should clinical case definitions of influenza in hospitalized older adults include fever?

Clinical decision rules using the presence of cough and fever may be helpful when screening for influenza or empiric antiviral treatment when rapid influenza testing is not available; however, lower fever thresholds may be considered for elderly subjects.

Slide Decks

Presentation and learning materials for education for UK-based primary care around the burden of seasonal influenza in an older adult population.

Seasonal Influenza Immunisation: Strategies for Older Adults

This program addresses global issues in influenza immunisation for adults age 65 years and older. The intended audience includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other immunizers, public health and clinical program managers and senior policy advisors in healthcare facilities, regional, provincial/state and national health organizations.

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