Coronavirus (COVID-19) Archive

All historical information below has been moved from the main Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information page

CMO Letters

2021

HSS(MD) 89/2021 – 23.12.2021 – JCVI Update on Advice for COVID-19 Vaccination of Children and Young People

HSS(MD) 85/2021 – 21.12.2021 – Updated Policy for Management of Self-Isolation of Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases – Additional Safeguards for HSC Staff

Annex A – 21.12.2021 – Checklist for HSC Workers who are Close Contacts of COVID

HSS(MD) 84/2021 – 20.12.2021 – JCVI Advice that Pregnant Woman of Any Age Should be Considered as a Clinical Risk Group for Covid-19

HSS(MD) 79/2021 – 07.12.2021 – JCVI Issues Advice on the Vaccine Response to the Omicron Variant

HSS(MD) 78/2021 – 29.11.2021 – Information on the Immediate Actions in Response to the newly identified SARS-COV-2 Variant

HSS(MD) 75/2021 – 14.11.2021 – Patients Requiring Astrazeneca Vaccine as a Booster 

HSS(MD) 69/2021 – 29.09.2021 – COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Programme for Winter

HSS(MD) 67/2021 – 29.09.2021 – The use of Unlicensed Medicines in the Treatment of COVID-19

HSS(MD) 66.2021 20.09.2021 Advice On Third Primary Dose For Covid 19 Vaccination

HSS(MD) 64/2021 – 15.09.2021 – Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2021/22

HSS(MD) 62/2021 – 27.08.2021 – Shingles Vaccination Programme – Eligibility Criteria for 2021/22 and introduction of Shingrix for Immunocompromised

HSS(MD) 59/2021 – 20.08.2021 – Policy Change for HSC Staff Advised to Isolate as a Close Contact 

HSS(MD) 57/2021 – 09.08.2021 – Pause on Vaccination of Low Priority Groups and Change to the Ordering Process for Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine

HSS(MD) 47/2021 – 23.07.2021 – Personal Protective Equipment and Heat: Risk of Heat Stress

HSS(MD) 39/2021 – 10.06.2021 – Change of Dose Interval Between COVID-19 Vaccines

HSS(MD) 35/2021 – 07.05.2021 – Use of the Astrazeneca Vaccine: Advice on Updated JCVI Statement

HSS(MD) 34/2021 – 29.04.2021 – MHRA and JCVI Announcement regarding Astrazeneca Vaccine Updated Contraindications and Next Steps

HSS(MD) 15/2021 – 29.01.2021 – COVID-19 Therapeutic Alert – Antimicrobials (Azithromycin and Doxycycline) not Beneficial in the Management of COVID-19 – (SARS-CoV-2) Positive Patients

HSS(MD) 13/2021 – 28.01.2021 – Updated Guidance on Timing of COVID-19 Vaccine Dosing Interval in Patients due to Receive Treatment with Immunosuppressants

HSS(MD) 4/2021 – 08.01.2021 – Timing of Interval between COVID-19 Vaccine Doses 

HSS(MD) 92/2020 – 05.01.2021 –

New Variant of SARS-COV-2 Virus in South Africa; Actions for the Health Service in Northern Ireland

HSS(MD) 94/2020 – 04.01.2021 – CMO Letters regarding the UK COVID-19 Vaccination programmes are available

 

2020

HSS(MD) 93/2020 – 30.12.2020 – Deployment of the Astrazeneca COVID-19 Vaccine in Northern Ireland and Updated JCVI Advice on COVID-19 Vaccines

HSS(MD) 91/2020 – 23.12.2020 – COVID-19 Therapeutic Alert – Therapeutic Anti-Coagulation (Heparin) in the Management of Severe COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Positive Patients

HSS(MD) 84/2020 – 10.12.2020 – Pfizer Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine – Updated Guidance on Managing Allergic Reactions

HSS(MD) 82/2020 – 07.12.2020 – Deployment of the COVID-19 Vaccine in Northern Ireland is available

Letter to the Profession from the 4 UK CMO’s – 04.12.2020 – RE: Winter Vaccines and Research 

HSS(MD) 77/2020 – 17.11.2020 – Expression of Interest to all Registered Health Care Professionals to become Sessional Vaccinators to Help Implement the Forthcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Programme 

HSS(MD) 70.2020 – 06.10.2020 – COVID-19 – Shielding Guidance for Children and Young People: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)

HSS(MD) 67/2020 – 17.09.2020 – Minimising Risks of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Healthcare Settings

HSS(MD) 68/2020 – 23.09.2020 – Letter to All Health and Social Care Workers Encouraging Everyone to Obtain the Flu Vaccination

Circular HSC (SQSD) (NICE IPG) 16/20 – 02.09.2020 – NICE Interventional Procedures Guidance – Bi-monthly HSC Communication – July & August 2020

HSS(MD) 60/2020 – 18.08.2020 – COVID-19 Research Letter from UK CMO’s and NHS Medical Director

HSS(MD) 59/2020 -18.08.2020 – Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2020/21

HSS(MD) 58/2020 – 11.08.2020 – Use of Face Masks and Face Coverings in all Health and Social Care settings

HSS(MD) 47/2020 – 16.06.2020 – Dexamethasone in COVID-19

HSS(MD) 45/2020 – 13.06.2020 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), as an Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP)

HSS(MD) 38/2020 – 29.05.2020 – COVID-19 Contact Tracing Strategy & Programme in Northern Ireland – “Test, Trace and Protect”

NEW CAS Alert – 15 May CW

HSS(MD) 35/2020 – 18.05.2020 – COVID-19 Case Definition Change

HSS(MD) 32/2020 – 05.05.2020 – Yellow Card Reporting Site for Healthcare Products Used in Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Letter from Dr Michael McBride – letter from the 4 UK CMOs and Medical Directors of PHE and NHS England- 04.05.2020

HSS(MD) 26/2020 – 19.04.2020 – COVID-19 PPE Guidance Update

HSS(MD) 26/2020 – 19.04.2020 – COVID-19 PPE Guidance Update

HSS(MD) 23/2020 – 15.04.2020 – Ibuprofen and Coronavirus Guidance

HSS(MD) 20/2020 – 03.04.2020 – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

HSS(MD) 19/2020 – 28.03.2020 – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

HSS(MD) 17/2020 – 27.03.2020 – COVID-19 Chloroquine & Hydroxychloroquine not licensed for COVID-19 Treatment

HSS(MD) 15/2020 – 19.03.2020 – Novel Coronavirus – Anti-inflammatory medications

HSS(MD) 14/2020 – 13.03.2020 – Novel Coronavirus: Advice for HSC in Northern Ireland

HSS(MD) 5/2020 – 31.01.2020 – Updated Advice – Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Bulletins

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.1 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.2 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.3 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.4 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.5 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.6 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.7 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.8 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.9 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.10 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.11 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.12 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.13 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.14 is available here.

Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.15 is available here.

 

Key Information

Letter from HSCB – RE: COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for General Ophthalmic Services (10.12.2020)

RNIB and Guide Dogs launch guidance on Social Distancing for NI (20.08.2020) – Social Distancing Guidelines

For NI PEARS carried out from 29th June 2020 please see MOS 333 here. 

Recommended PPE Poster – Primary Outpatient & Community Care Settings

Optometrist Key worker confirmation is available here.

PHE – COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance (20.08.2020)

Template for FSS Assurance Monitoring – Ophthalmic Contractors (17.08.2020)

NIA-2020-02 Risks associated with alcohol based hand sanitisers (29.05.2020)

Acute Eyecare Pathway Important Update – Eye Casualty Changes (29.05.2020)

HSCB – Frequently asked questions on wearing PPE V1 (01.05.2020)

HSCB – Infection prevention & control recap (01.05.2020)

FAQ’s to assist in the completion of the the weekly (FSS) Survey Monkey monitoring return (01.05.2020)

RNIB Press Release on Diabetic Retinal Screening (28.04.2020)

Letter from HSCB – Interim Protocol for testing for COVID-19 for Optometry Professionals (28.04.2020)

COVID-19 Strategic Direction GOS (07.04.2020)

HSCB Letter to Community Pharmacies RE: Essential and Urgent Primary Eyecare (02.04.2020)

Optometry Services (Urgent Care Activity Record) April 2020

HSCB Letter to GP Practices RE: Essential and Urgent Primary Eye Care (31.03.2020)

Financial Support For Ophthalmic Contractors (25.03.2020)

Letter to Ophthalmic Contractors RE: HSC Complaints during COVID-19 (26.03.2020)

COVID-19 Optometry Contractors_Patient Signature Guidance (20.03.2020)

COVID-19 Optometry Business Continuity Plan (March 2020) is available here.

HSCB Advice for Ophthalmic Contractors – Ophthalmic Service Suspension (23.03.2020)

Urgent Communication – COVID-19: Advice for Ophthalmic Contractors (20.03.2020)

Click here for a Map of the specified areas in Italy affected.

Click here for a Map of specified areas affected.

Click here for advice and information resources from PHA (Public Health Agency).

An Advice Poster is available here.

A Pathway flow-chart is available here.

COVID-19 Lines to take for Helpline operatives (Version 7.4) (13.03.2020)

 

 

Urgent Eyecare: Provision Arrangements (COVID-19 Lockdown Period)

COVID-19 Urgent Care Guidance (23.04.2020) is available here.

Urgent Eyecare Service – Important Update on Claim Process (01.05.2020)

The eForm that can be used for assessments carried out from this date can be found here. This should be used for NI PEARS claims that cannot be claimed via OCS.

 

HSC Rebuilding Services

Letter from HSCB – RE: Phase 3b Rebuilding of HSC Eyecare Services (09.09.2020)

Letter from HSCB – RE: Phase 3a Rebuilding of HSC Eyecare Services (26.08.2020)

Letter from HSCB – RE: Phase 2 Rebuilding of HSC Primary Eyecare Services (27.07.2020)

Letter from HSCB – RE: Phase 1 Rebuilding of HSC Primary Eyecare Services (17.06.2020)