I am conscious that many of you made the time to dial into the breakfast briefing session last week with regards to Pertussis and Measles. I am sure those who did attend found it very beneficial. For those who were not able to juggle their diaries for the meeting, I would strongly recommend that you watch the meeting to hear first hand the updates, particularly in relation to the expansion of the occupational vaccine programme for Pertussis in healthcare workers. This programme will now be expanded to Group 2 – ‘HCWs with regular clinical contact with young unimmunised infants in hospital or community settings’. Colleagues who were present at the meeting will verify that requests to ensure our local Trust senior leaders are aware of the resource impact that this will have on our occupational health teams. 

The Core list on the Network site has been updated and we are hopeful that the associated documentation will be launched very soon, as well as the NHS England ‘Immunisation and Vaccination Framework’. We will of course also update the Network’s Immunisation Guidance document accordingly as soon as all the latest information is published. 

Access to the session recording is available via the NHS Futures ‘Growing OHWB’ page. This can be accessed via login access to NHS Futures at the following link: 

Growing OHWB breakfast session 3: Special vaccination session: 13 June 2024 - Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing Together - FutureNHS Collaboration Platform

A copy of the recently updated 'Core List New Starter Immune Status Check, Vaccinations, Testing & Blood-Borne Virus Clearance' is also now available on the Network website.

The UKHSA have also just produced the attached Pertussis briefing note. Specific reference to the role and responsibility of occupational health can be found at the bottom of page four and top of page five.

Hilary Winch

Chair 

NHS Health at Work Network