Flu and Covid Vaccination Season 💉

Each year, patients become eligible for their flu and COVID vaccinations once the official eligibility window opens. This means:

• Patients can now be invited and vaccinated according to NHS guidelines.
• Messaging is timely and aligned with eligibility, helping avoid confusion or missed payments.
• Practices can confidently manage recalls and outreach throughout the season.

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How Abtrace Helps You Stay Organised

Now that the 2025/26 flu season is underway, Abtrace provides tools to help you:

• Identify eligible patients using up-to-date vaccination rules.
• Send bulk messages and manage recalls efficiently.
• Use advanced filters to target specific cohorts based on clinical criteria.
• For mop-up work, use the Flu Decline Questionnaire to gather information on patients who either do not wish to receive the flu vaccine or have already received it elsewhere.

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Managing Patient Eligibility

Patients eligible for the flu vaccination will appear as:

• Opportunistic (Amber) from the day they become eligible.
• Overdue (Red) 3 months after eligibility, until the end of March.

This helps you track and prioritise patients throughout the season.

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How to Get Started

You can manage recalls and send bulk messages for Flu and COVID using the Population Tab on PMT. Use filters like 'flu' or 'covid' to find relevant cohorts.

 

A. Flu – Cohorts Eligible for Vaccination in September

Indications:

• (Vaccination) Age 2–3 years at start of flu season
• (Vaccination) Pregnant
• (Vaccination) Age < 18 + In Clinical Risk Group

Tasks:

• Influenza Vaccine
• Choose Opportunistic and Overdue

Once you've added any other exclusion/limiting criteria, press +Add Recall and follow the steps to create a recall that will run throughout the flu season to invite patients who are eligible and have not yet completed their flu vaccination.

 

B. Flu – Cohorts Eligible for Vaccination in October

Indications:

• (Vaccination) 18–64 yrs and Immunosuppressed
• (Vaccination) 18–64 yrs and LTC
• (Vaccination) Flu ≥ 65
• (Vaccination) Obese BMI ≥ 40
• (Vaccination) Healthcare Worker
• (Vaccination) Flu Specific Code

Tasks:

• Influenza Vaccine
• Choose Opportunistic and Overdue

Once you've added any other exclusion/limiting criteria, press +Add Recall and follow the steps to create a recall that will run throughout the flu season.

Now that October is underway, if preferred, both group A and B can be combined into one recall by simply selecting: 

Tasks:

• Influenza Vaccine
• Choose Opportunistic and Overdue

This encompasses all patients due for their flu vaccine, irrelevant of the eligibility cohort. Once complete, simply press +Add Recall and follow the steps to create a recall that will run throughout the flu season.

🔗 Check-out the exclusion codes accepted – these will automatically exclude patients from being eligible for this recall.

📌 You can also view a list of patients who have already had their first flu invite by using the register: Indications: Influenza Vaccination Invite Sent

 

C. COVID – Autumn 2025

Indications:

• (Vaccination) Covid – Immunosuppressed
• (Vaccination) Covid – Care Home
• (Vaccination) Covid – ≥ 75

Tasks:

• Covid Vaccine
• Choose Opportunistic and Overdue

Once you've added any other exclusion/limiting criteria, press +Add Recall and follow the steps to create a recall that will run throughout the COVID season.

🔗 Check-out the exclusion codes accepted

 

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👉 In short: Abtrace’s Flu and Covid rules help you manage patient outreach and vaccination efficiently throughout the season, ensuring timely communication and recall activity.