Our Seasonal Influenza Vaccination course has been updated to ensure that it is accurate for the 2024/25 flu season.

Flu appears most frequently in winter and early spring. Most of the cases of flu in the UK occur during an 8-10-week period throughout winter.

With the flu virus constantly changing, immunising people on an annual basis is important to help protect them in the forthcoming flu season. The national flu immunisation programme is one of the most effective interventions provided to reduce harm from flu and pressure on health and social care services during winter.

What does the updated flu eLearning course cover?

This updated seasonal influenza vaccination course has been develop for healthcare professionals and explains what flu is, the types of flu and how this affects people, who is eligible for the NHS England flu vaccination programme and when vaccinations should be administered. It then also explains specific details of the annual national vaccination programme, including the types of vaccine available for the forthcoming season.

We would advise that staff members involved in the delivery of flu vaccinations retake this course before their recommended retake period.

Types of Seasonal Flu Vaccinations for the 2024/25

There are two main types of vaccines available, and neither of these flu vaccines can cause clinical influenza in those that can be vaccinated.

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine – Given by Injection

The inactivated flu vaccines are quadrivalent vaccines - they contain 2 subtypes of Influenza A and both B lineages. The inactivated vaccines are recommended for people aged 18 and over, children in clinical risk groups aged 6 months to 2 years, and for children aged 2 to 18 years who cannot receive live attenuated vaccine.

Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine – Given by Nasal Application

The live attenuated flu vaccine is a trivalent vaccine, it contains 2 subtypes of Influenza A and one B lineage. The live attenuated vaccine is licensed for children aged 2 up to 18 years.

Types of Flu Vaccines

There are a number of different flu vaccines available each year and it is important to be aware of the age indications for each of them and the ovalbumin content for those where the flu viruses are grown on hens eggs. The vaccines available for the 2024/25 flu immunisation programme are set out in the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) document ‘All influenza vaccines marketed in the UK for the 2024 to 2025 season’.

Vaccine Storage

Vaccines need to be stored in specific conditions, to ensure that the efficacy, safety and quality of the vaccine is not adversely affected.

All flu vaccines, inactivated and LAIV, must be stored in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions:

Store between +2C and +8C
Store in the original packaging
Do not freeze
Protect from light

These instructions are important, as all vaccines are sensitive to some extent of heat and cold. Heat speeds up the decline in potency of most vaccines, which therefore reduces their shelf life.

If vaccines were to be frozen, then this may cause increased reactogenicity and loss of potency for some vaccines. Freezing may also cause hairline cracks in the vaccine container, which could lead to contamination of the contents.

Ordering Controls and Excess Stock

It is important not to order or hold more than 2 weeks’ worth of LAIV, as stockpiling increases the risk of significant loss if there are cold chain failures. Stockpiling also increases the risk of out-of-date vaccine being used as Fluenz Tetra has a short shelf life.

Flu Vaccination Training for Healthcare Professionals

Click here to request further information on Blue Stream Academy’s range of eLearning courses for healthcare professionals, including the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination training course. This course is available on our GP, Private and Urgent Care, and Hospice eLearning platforms.

Update Seasonal Influenza Vacciniation eLearning Course