Release from the HPA regarding the data uploads for the HPA Influenza and Swine Influenza Uptake Survey

GP Swine Flu and Seasonal Flu Vaccine Uptake Automated Data Collections - Deadline Extension

Please note that due to the very large size of the swine flu dataset and the large number of validation checks that have to be performed, it is taking much longer to upload and process the data than is typical for other surveys. This is compounded because we have both the seasonal flu and the swine flu surveys running concurrently, and are receiving large amounts of data for both.

Because of this, we are extending the deadline for the seasonal and swine flu surveys for October to midnight Wednesday 11 November (for GP practices) and midnight Thursday 12 November (for PCTs).

The status by bulk upload provider for each survey is as follows:-

Seasonal Flu
EMIS LV data provided and uploaded
Microtest data provided and uploaded
TPP data provided and uploaded

CHART submitted data (via PRIMIS+) submitted by PRIMIS+ awaiting upload (expected to complete on 10/11/2009)

InPS (Vision) - no data being automatically uploaded as yet.

Swine Flu
EMIS LV data provided and currently being uploaded
Microtest data provided and uploaded

TPP - no data being automatically uploaded as yet.

InPS (Vision) - no data being automatically uploaded as yet.

Please note that the deadline for submitting to PRIMIS+ (midnight Friday 6 November) is NOT extended, so swine and seasonal flu uptake data submitted to PRIMIS+ after this time will NOT be included in the October data upload to ImmForm. Data can still be submitted in following months, but must be submitted by the PRIMIS+ deadline in order for them to collate together in a bulk upload file to submit to ImmForm.

Revised Upload Process
We are urgently working on a more efficient XML upload process to reduce the time taken to process the XML files, once received. The revised upload method is due to be released on ImmForm on 23 November. There will be no changes to the XML file specification or the way GP practices automatically submit data; all changes will be internal to ImmForm.

Therefore, we hope we can return to the original survey collection timetable in time for next Month (November data collected in December). GP practice data providers will have 5 working days to submit data on the ImmForm website and PCT Flu co-ordinators will have an additional 2 days (a total of 7 working days) to add or amend the data on behalf of GP practices.

User Guides
The User Guides for the Seasonal Flu and Swine Flu (GP) surveys for both GP practices and PCTs, are now available via the Information Portal on the ImmForm website. The seasonal flu user guides can also be accessed via the NHS Immunisation website.

Contacting Us
If you experience any problems using the ImmForm Website, please use the feedback facility on the top menu bar.

For swine flu immunisation policy queries, not covered in the Swine Flu CMO Letter or other guidance, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For seasonal flu immunisation policy queries, not covered in the CMO Letter or other guidance, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Queries regarding the Swine Flu vaccine uptake survey (GPs and HCWs) should be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Queries regarding the Seasonal Flu vaccine uptake survey (GPs) should be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .