HEALTHCARE

Central European Practice (CEP)

SHAPE & Brussels

SHAPE Dental Centre

Naples

New Health Visitor – Kerry Riley (Both SHAPE and CEP)
Kerry has 10 years of experience as a Health Visitor and 21 years as a nurse. In this time Kerry has supported British Military Families overseas in Cyprus and Kenya and has also been in military service. Health visitors are specialist nurses who are experts in public health and child development and mandated by the government to deliver the healthy child programme. In partnership with SSAFA Kerry will be offering support and guidance to you and your family virtually or if required face to face.

COVID Immunisation– update on the next phase in Europe/Turkey –  FAQs  

This is an update for MoD personnel living in EJSU-supported areas on plans for the next phase of the COVID immunisation program. Those with under 18s at post please read the part in red.  

Under 18s

The UK’s vaccination group have recently offered advice (here) that those aged 12-17 may be offered one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine. The Department for Health is currently beginning immunisation in the UK while the MoD and FCDO plan for the logistics of an offer to the small number of overseas U18s who are not incorporated in a host nation plan.  

In Europe and Turkey many of our countries of residence are already offering two doses of Pfizer  to young people and many have taken this up already.  We have reached out to all NSEs and are not aware of many issues with access but if you have any concerns then get in touch direct with your practice as well as letting the NSE know.      

We understand that differing approaches to immunisation and certification between the UK and other nations creates challenges for those who live or travel between two regions (in particular children who are at school in the UK). There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this but individual preferences; the HN offer; and the residency status of the child will play a part in family decisions on whether to aim for a local vaccination.  In making this decision, it is also worth highlighting that the MoD has no authority to move ahead of the NHS program (which allows only one jab at the moment) and we also have no immediate access to our own stock of Pfizer vaccine in most locations. Therefore, please consider the HN offer of Pfizer for U18s and accept it should you wish to.  

1. Please ensure you and your child (over 12) have considered the Host Nation offer of Pfizer immunisation, using UK and HN advice, and taken it up if you wish to.  This is the only current means of access to immunisation out of the UK for children across Europe and Turkey.
2. Records: The details of any immunisation undertaken in the host nation (including type, batch number and date of expiry) should be sent to your practice so we can update your Defence medical and NHS record. NB.
3. Although we can include those aged 12-17 in the NHS clinical system, under 16s across the UK have no access to NHS online certification. If they need to demonstrate proof of immunisation for life overseas this will currently need to be on the host nation system.  

MoD view on HN offer:  JSP 950, Leaflet 7-1-1 (linked on ModNet here): So long as the HN-provided vaccine is compliant with the EMA/FDA/MHRA conditions of authorisation an individual (or the person with parental responsibility) can accept the offer of a HN vaccine under the principles of informed consent (noting that children aged 16-17 are often competent to give their own consent).

Boosters for over 50s

We anticipate a mixture of Host nation and UK clinic-administered vaccine for those over 50 and those with certain underlying health conditions. For most people on the UK program this will mean they become eligible in November.   

We are currently working on the logistics of UK provision and may choose to minimise this where there is already an accessible host nation offer. At the moment European countries vary in their approach but if you are in an eligible groups and 6 months have passed since your second vaccine and Pfizer is available in your country of residence, you may wish to accept that offer. Please also let your practice know of the immunisation if you do accept one elsewhere. 

Third primary doses

A very small number of people in the UK MoD population require a third primary dose of vaccine due to having a condition or taking medicines that affect the immune response. This third dose is usually with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines (the mRNA types). We are reaching out to these people to ensure a HN or UK offer is in place but if you are in these groups and have not yet been contacted please give your practice a call.  

Third primary COVID-19 vaccine dose for people who are immunosuppressed: JCVI advice

More Information:

COVID-19 vaccination: resources for children and young people

JCVI statement, August 2021: COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people aged 12 to 17 years

COVID-19 vaccination programme

Contact your practice:

Central European Practice  –   UKStratCom-DMS-DPHC-EJSU-CEPGrp@mod.gov.uk

SHAPE and Brussels Practice  –  UKStratCom-DMS-DPHC-MON-Grp@mod.gov.uk

Most medical supplies can be obtained usually without a prescription in the pharmacy however, drugs may be marketed under a different name or can be expensive and difficult to find. Specific requirements and/or brand names may not be available.

We recommend that you bring some with you and keep your medical cabinet stocked up whilst you are in Europe, please see the list below of what is recommended.

Please make sure that your medical cabinet is locked and out of reach of children.

Pain relief: paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin, Calpol
Antihistamines
Oral rehydration salts
Anti-diarrhoea tablets
Indigestion treatment

First Aid Kit

Bandages, plasters, thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, solution, sterile dressings, medical tape, tweezers.

You can contact Healix using the following details: