Influenza Vaccines 2007/08

This page contains information regarding the payments made to Scottish community pharmacies and dispensing doctors for Influenza Vaccines for the financial year 2007/08.

There were 1,071,436 influenza vaccines dispensed in Scotland in 2007/08 compared to 1,097,284 in 2006/07 a decrease of 25,848 (2.36%). This table shows the distribution and total cost of vaccines by NHS Board and the average price paid per vaccine by NHS Board. The average price paid per vaccine by NHS Board is also illustrated in this graph.

Price Distribution of Flu Vaccines

There was a wide variation in the cost of Flu vaccines dispensed ranging from the cheapest price endorsed at £1.15 per vaccine to the most expensive at £7.86 per vaccine, with a Scottish average of £4.26.

The following tables:

Price Distribution of Flu Vaccines by NHS Board

Price Distribution of Flu Vaccines by NHS Board as % of Total

show the price distribution of the vaccines dispensed by NHS Board. Any unendorsed stock orders or prescriptions were paid at the default reimbursement price of £3.00 and the number of vaccines dispensed at £3.00 is shown in the tables, however this figure will also include any vaccines which were endorsed with £3.00.

Detailed below are graphs of the Price Distribution of Flu Vaccines for each NHS Board compared with the Price Distribution for Scotland.

• NHS Ayrshire & Arran
• NHS Borders
• NHS Dumfries & Galloway
• NHS Fife
• NHS Forth Valley
• NHS Grampian
• NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
• NHS Highland
• NHS Lanarkshire
• NHS Lothian
• NHS Orkney
• NHS Shetland
• NHS Tayside
• NHS Western Isles

Risk Minimisation Fee Payment

A risk minimisation fee payment of 55p per vaccine was made to those contractors who demonstrated to the satisfaction of their NHS Board that they met the following conditions:

1. They must be able to demonstrate that they have sought to achieve value for money for NHS Scotland. The criterion for this is that the contractor has contracted with at least three suppliers and in placing orders has applied normal commercial practice in achieving best value for NHS Scotland.
   
2. Community pharmacy contractors must be able to demonstrate that they have completed the processing of orders received by the date set 9 March 2007 from all their GP practices within mutually agreed timescales. Dispensing Doctors must have placed orders for their own use by the same date.
3. They have maintained adequate and appropriate cold chain capacity.
4. They have shared information in a timely manner with NHS Boards vaccine co-ordinators on orders received from GP practices (community pharmacy contractors only) and supply arrangements with vaccine suppliers and have taken appropriate action to minimise the risk of supply shortfalls. NHS Board vaccine co-ordinators will in turn advise at an early stage of any concerns.
   

This table shows the Risk Minimisation Fees paid by NHS Board

Effective Purchasing Payment

The Effective Purchasing Payment is a new incentive for 2007-8 to encourage contractors when placing orders to seek to achieve prices which improve value for money for the NHS. It is available to community pharmacy and dispensing doctors. This payment is designed to return to contractors a share of the benefits achieved by them through effective purchasing.

The payment will be at a single set rate for each contractor, who achieves an average price for 2007-8 lower than the ‘starting rate’. The payment will be calculated as:

• 1/2 x (The ‘starting rate’ minus the average flu vaccine cost achieved by that contractor during season 2007-8) x number of vaccines purchased during 2007-8 season by that contractor.
• The 'Starting rate' will be the average flu vaccine cost achieved by all contractors during season 2006-7 which was calculated as £4.18.
• If the price achieved by the contractor in 2007-08 is not lower than the starting rate (the average cost achieved in 2006-7) no payment under this heading will be due.
  

This table shows the Effective Purchasing Payment paid by NHS Board