Review of the last two weeks!

I've been on holiday for a fortnight and what a lot has happened in the world of travel medicine during that time.  Here is a quick summary of some changes and links to a few of the key resources:

VACCINE SHORTAGES continue and Public Health England have now published guidance documents for Hepatitis A infection: prevention and control guidance with all documents on this page here. There are two documents specifically about hepatitis A vaccine

• Hepatitis A vaccination in adults - temporary recommendations  
• Hepatitis A vaccination in children – temporary recommendations

I would suggest there is no quick fix to understanding the guidance, you need to print it off and have within your consultation.  And remember that NaTHNaC has reviewed and updated the hepatitis A country specific information and vaccine recommendations to provide up-to-date recommendations for travellers and travel health professionals - see here 

Hepatitis B vaccine is also in short supply and one document covers this topic for temporary measures 

• Hepatitis B vaccination in adults and children: temporary recommendations

We are reminded that for all this guidance from PHE, this temporary advice is not absolute and requires some clinical judgement and a detailed individual risk assessment.

• A new leaflet What to do if you have to wait for a dose of hepatitis B vaccine: advice for patients was published on 7th August

NATIONAL DATABASE DEVELOPMENTS

NaTHNaC are changing their telephone advice line opening hours from 7th August 2017, in response to customer feedback. For details of the news item see here .  NaTHNaC have also launched an new e learning course on risk assessment - see here 

TRAVAX has upgraded their website and it's being trialed alongside the original website just now on a 'Beta site' which allows any potential issues to be resolved before it goes 'live'.  The site has a more modern feel, works intuitively now on devices such as tablets, mobile phones and laptops, and the popular suitcase feature has been enhanced further.  For example, one can also include a message for your traveller if sending them advice by e mail.  For more details see here 

TRAVEL IMMS IN THE FUTURE

Following the news in the press in March, a consultation document has now been launched 'Items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care: A Consultation on guidance for CCGs' - see here.  The section for travel is on page 23 here and the FAQ document is also interesting.  I will be writing about this in the August Practice Nurse Update, so more detail shortly.   

And here are some of my holiday pictures!