GMS Determination/ SFA Amendment

1. The Secretary of State, after consultation with the representatives of the profession, hereby makes a determination in accordance with Regulation 34 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, as amended, and has updated the Statement of Fees and Allowances as set out in page 2.
2. The amendment has immediate effect.

   Explanatory note
   (This note does not form part of the Statement of Fees and Allowances)

3. Following the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation the Department of Health has introduced a Haemophilius influenzae b (Hib) vaccine catch-up campaign in order to respond to the recent rise in cases of Hib disease.
4. The target cohort includes all children aged from 6 months to 3 years and 364 days old on 1 April 2003. However it is recognised that some children will be aged over 3 years and 364 days by the time they have been invited for their Hib vaccine and it is recommended that they are offered the vaccine as part of this campaign.
5. The campaign commences on Monday 12 May 2003, with a recommended time of four months for completion.
6. Payments apply only to the additional dose of Hib vaccine given i.e. a dose in addition to that recommended for primary immunisation. Payments will be available for a period of six months from the start of the campaign but will also be payable beyond that period where the additional dose follows a primary course commenced within the four-month target for completion e.g. commenced on or by 12 September 2003.
7. Further details on the campaign can be found in the CMO letters PL/CMO/2003/1 and PL/CMO/2003/2 which are available at: www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/letters.htm and guidance on immunisation in ‘Immunisation against Infectious Disease,’ (the Green Book), which can be found at: www.doh.gov.uk/greenbook

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health
Ian Dodge
Assistant Secretary
Department of Health
Date: 7 May 2003

Amendment to Paragraph 27/Schedule 1

In Schedule 1 (Fees for Vaccination and Immunisation) to paragraph 27 of the Statement of Fees and Allowances, in column 2 (Groups of persons affected for whom fees are payable) and column 3 (Fee) of item 12, Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib), and referring notes, replace with the following text:

Note 8

The haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) vaccine should be given in accordance with the aims of the catch up campaign notified in the CMO letter dated 10 April 2003 [PL/CMO/2003/2] including supporting guidance, and with Chapter 8 of Immunisation against Infectious Disease, 1996 edition.

Note 9

Payment only applies to the one additional dose of Hib vaccine (i.e. doses constituting a course, part or full, of Hib primary immunisation do not qualify for payment) given in accordance with the timetable laid down in the campaign guidance referred to in Note 8.

In addition payment applies when:

• the vaccine is administered to the cohort during the period 12 September 2003 to 12 November 2003;

• an additional dose follows a course of Hib primary immunisation (full or part) which is commenced during the period 12 May 2003 to 12 September 2003; and

• where for any reason a child is outwith the cohort described in column 2 but is invited to participate in the catch up campaign in accordance with the necessary timetable.