Provision of Community Pharmacy RSV and Pertussis Vaccination Enhanced Service

Descriptions

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) on behalf of NHS England (NHSE) (The Commissioner) would like to notify the market of an opportunity to provide Community Pharmacy RSV and Pertussis Vaccination Enhanced Service within the Midlands Region.Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a virus that for most people causes a mild respiratory illness, but can be more serious for those, including older adults and infants, who are at risk of more severe respiratory disease. Following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendation, the Commissioner will commission from September 2024:• an adult programme (predominately to be commissioned through general practice); and• an infant programme provided as vaccination during pregnancy (predominantly to be commissioned through NHS Trusts).In addition, where there are areas of identified additional need, the Commissioner will commission community pharmacy to provide additional capacity and increased access to supplement the core provision of these two programmes. Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory disease that is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. Pertussis can cause serious and life-threatening complications including pneumonia, difficulty in breathing (apnoea) and seizures. Pertussis most commonly affects infants, and very young infants are at highest risk of serious complications, of needing admission to hospital or of dying.Pregnant women are eligible for the Pertussis vaccine from 16 weeks pregnancy, although the optimal window for protection is between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Commissioners have commissioned general practice and NHS trusts to deliver the Pertussis vaccination programme for pregnant women.In addition, where there are areas of identified additional need, the Commissioner will commission community pharmacy to provide the Pertussis vaccination programme opportunistically to pregnant women to supplement the core service provision.This Procurement Process is for the service provision in the Midlands Region where up to 66 sites from multiple potential Suppliers will be selected to provide the Services from May 2025. The 66 successful sites will be in three ICBs within the Midlands Region, with 22 sites allocated per lot to allow the Commissioner to ensure an even geographical spread. Should fewer than 22 sites be awarded to a Lot, up to 4 additional sites may be awarded under alternative Lot(s) at the Commissioners discretion. The ICB's included in this procurement are NHS Black Country ICB, NHS Leicester, Leicestershire, & Rutland ICB & NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB.The value of the service provision resulting from this Procurement Process will be an Item of Service (IoS) fee of £9.58 for the administration of each RSV and pertussis vaccine to each eligible patient.The number of eligible patients, and therefore the likely activity level, could change as a result of factors beyond the Commissioner’s control such as an increase or decrease in population of the local area, closure or merger of other nearby NHS health organisations, or patient.Services will commence in May 2025 and will continue until 31st March 2027, with an option for the Commissioner to extend for 24 months until 31 March 2029.Please note the deadline for responses to the ITT is 12:00PM (Mid-Day) on Friday 14th March 2025.