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Who to Vaccinate and When: Practical Immunisation Decisions in Primary Care for Acute Respiratory Viruses

Dovydas TREPOKAS and Eglė KIRIELIENĖ

This workshop is designed for general practitioners navigating the increasingly complex landscape of respiratory virus immunisation in primary care settings. With multiple vaccines now available for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, (and hMPV in the pipeline) each with distinct timing requirements, target populations, and administration guidelines, GPs face practical challenges in determining who should receive which vaccines and when.Update knowledge on current immunisation recommendations for acute respiratory viruses, including co-administration guidelines. Navigate special populations and contraindications.Introduction (5 minutes) – Interactive poll & question Current Immunisation Landscape (15 minutes) – Key Respiratory Vaccines Priority Populations (15 minutes) – High Risk groups Practical Administration guidelines (10 minutes) – Co-administration – Timing considerations – Storage & Handling – Documentation Q&A and Resources (10 minutes) Closing (5 Minutes)This workshop provides GPs with practical, evidence-based guidance to improve respiratory virus immunisation rates in their practice while building confidence in addressing patient concerns. Essential Resources: – National immunisation handbooks – WHO immunisation schedules – Professional college guidelines – Patient information resources – Immunisation registers and tracking systemsKey Takeaway Messages: – Proactively identify and recall high-risk patients – Don't miss opportunities – vaccinate at any visit – Co-administration is safe and effective – Use presumptive communication strategies – Stay updated with national guidelines Action items: – Regularly audit your practice's immunisation rates and act on the results – Review your high-risk patient list – Update practice protocols – Train staff on vaccine communication