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Press release: NHS Employers and GPC reach agreement on childhood vaccination programme12 Jul 2006 NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA have reached an agreement which will pave the way for the start of the childhood vaccination programme against pneumococcal disease. The agreement on how GPs will be paid for administering the vaccinations means that the immunisation programme will now start on 4 September 2006. "This vaccine will save children's lives and that's why the negotiation teams on both sides have been keen to reach an agreement quickly. What we have is a deal which is cost-effective and yet gives GPs the funds to be able to start the process of immunising their young patients. Once GPs receive their instructions from the Chief Medical Officer, they will be able to start the process of contacting parents". Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee said: "We are pleased that we have reached a sensible agreement that gives practices the appropriate resources to carry out the immunisation programme for their young patients against this relatively rare but serious disease. We anticipate that the final details of the arrangements will be sent to practices in the very near future so that they can finalise their plans to protect these children." Children will be given the vaccination against pneumococcal disease at the age of 2 months, 4 months and 13 months. They will get an additional injection around their first birthday for Hib meningitis and Meningitis C. Children who are older at the start of the programme will be part of a 'catch-up' campaign to ensure they get the vaccinations they need. The agreement between NHS Employers and the GPC means that GPs will receive £15.02 for each child who completes the vaccination course as part of the routine programme and £7.51 per child for the catch-up campaign. All GPs will receive a letter from the Chief Medical Officer outlining the details of the pneumococcal vaccination programme. Funding for the vaccination programme will be distributed to the NHS shortly as part of the roll out of the 2006/07 central programme budgets. (ends) For further information please contact Emma Robinson in NHS Employers' press office on 020 7074 3307 or Linda Millington in the BMA press office on 020 7383 6473. Notes for editors* This agreement represents an amendment to the childhood vaccination schedule which is part of the GMS contract. Contact detailsThe press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers. If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:
For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726. Last reviewed 12 Jul 2006 |
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