• Patient group directions (PGDs) 

The national patient group direction for the flu vaccination service provides the legal mechanism for administration.

• Confidentiality 

It is mandatory that all aspects of a patient’s condition and treatment remain confidential. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out seven key principles that should lie at the heart of an organisation’s approach to processing personal data. Pharmacy teams should also refer to their pharmacy’s GDPR policy.

The Department of Health and Social Care’s document, Confidentiality: NHS Code of practice, sets standards required for patient confidentiality in NHS organisations. 

• Consent 

Consent must be obtained before giving an immunisation, but there is no legal requirement for the consent to be in writing. What is more important is to be sure that the patient has been given the necessary information to obtain informed consent.