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We are delighted to announce that the President of the British Global and Travel Health Association (BGTHA), Dr George Kassianos FRCGP, FBIHS, FESH, FHEA, FAcadMEd, FISTM, FFTM RCPS(Glas) has been appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020.
George was recognized for services to Travel Medicine and General Practice.
George has worked tirelessly over many decades to develop and promote travel medicine.
George is Cypriot, trained in Poland with a scholarship from the International Union of Students, where he graduated with a Medical Degree with Honours. He then moved to Britain and trained as a General Practitioner at the Hammersmith and St. Mary's Hospitals in London.
He is a member of the British Medical Journalists' Association and was Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Drugs in Context for 10 years (now the Associate Editor), past Medical Editor of the journals Audit in General Practice, Care of the Elderly, Managing Heart Failure in General Practice. He is Editorial Board member of journals The British Journal of Cardiology, Geriatric Medicine, Primary Care Cardiovascular Journal, The British Journal of Family Medicine, the Bulgarian journal Preventive Medicine, The Journal of Travel Medicine of the International Society of Travel Medicine, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Supporting Guest Editor, and is the GP editorial consultant for the journal Guidelines in Practice.
He is currently preparing the 5th edition of his book 'Immunisation Childhood and Travel Health', member of the International Society of Travel Medicine, and President of the British Global & Travel Health Association (BGTHA) as well as on the Organising Committee of the Northern European Conference in Travel Medicine (NECTM). George was a founding member of the BGTHA in 1996, serving on the Executive Committee as Honorary Secretary for many years. He became President of the BGTHA in 2015 and is currently in his second term. George has edited a number of medical books for medics as well as patients and has lectured worldwide in over 30 countries.
He has published on various subjects including research papers on influenza, on willingness of European healthcare workers to undergo Influenza vaccination, Pneumococcal Infection in Europe, Herpes Zoster, Vaccination of older adults, the impact of vaccinating healthy children, Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care. He has participated in clinical research including international cardiology research such as REACH & CLARIFY and has chaired the Guidelines Panel on Myalgia in Patients Who Are Taking Statins as well as the panel for the first in the UK Angina Guidelines for General Practitioners.
In eight of over 90 scientific papers George was the first author and principal investigator. He has written over 200 articles in medical magazines, recorded a number of educational videos for UK and worldwide medical education, participated on the experts’ committees in 10 UK national guidelines, two of which he chaired, and has given over 300 interviews to Media, Radio & TV stations.
George has been the National Immunisation Lead for the Royal College of General Practitioners since 1996, of which he is a Fellow. He is also Fellow of the Faculty of Travel Medicine Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow, Higher Education Academy, Academy of Medical Educators, British & Irish Hypertension Society, the British Global & Travel Health Association, the European Society of Cardiology, and The International Society of Travel Medicine. He chairs the Pan-European Group on influenza RAISE (Raise Awareness of Influenza Strategies in Europe – 18 European countries) and is Board Director of the European Working Group on Influenza (ESWI).
He is the recipient of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Foundation Council Award (2018), the most prestigious award for services to the College and General Practice.
George has served in the past as GP Tutor, chair of the Professional Executive Committee of his local Primary Care Trust (PCT) and is currently a GP Appraiser as well as an Expert Witness for the General Medical Council. He represents the Royal College of GPs on the British Polio Fellowship (a charity) Expert Panel and serves on the NICE GP Reference Panel.
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to George and his family, for this hugely well-deserved honour in recognition of his work.
Dr. George Kassianos MD
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Please visit the following link to access the publication on UK experience in vaccinating healthy children over 6 influenza seasons.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X20308513
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In a Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immunization Needs to Be a Part of Everyday Clinical Practice
Educational Impact Challenge
Please visit the page here
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Written instruction for the administration of seasonal flu vaccination 2020/21
Specialist Pharmacy Services were made aware of issues being encountered on the use of Patient Group Directions (PGDs) within healthcare organisations and occupational health services with regards to offering employees and peer to peer seasonal flu vaccinations.
Specialist Pharmacy Service in conjunction with Care Quality Commission, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Authority, Royal College of Nursing, Public Health England, British Medical Association Occupational Health Committee and representatives from the NHS and independent sectors have developed written instructions for the administration of seasonal influenza vaccination for 2020/21.
The written instruction template and a factsheet will support the use of the written instruction and includes additional advice specific to GP practices in the use of PGDs and the administration of seasonal flu vaccinations.