In News

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

The National Pharmacy Association has said it supports a plan to commission pharmacies to administer all vaccines for eligible older adults as outlined in a new report calling for more vaccinations to be delivered in community pharmacy.

The report, launched yesterday at the House of Commons by the Pharmacy Vaccinations Development Group, which represents the vaccines supply chain, urged policymakers to take steps to ensure deprived communities have access to vaccines.

This included expanding the national booking service so patients can book appointments to have all vaccines and integrating pharmacy booking systems into the national system.

Review supply models to ensure vaccines are available

“This will allow pharmacies to share availability with commissioners, allow patients to book through their preferred route and reduce the administrative burden on pharmacy teams,” the report said.

It also called for a review of supply models to ensure vaccines are available to patients and expanding vaccination pilots.

“Any new commissioning must carefully consider vaccine supply models,” it said. “Additional delivery locations and greater volumes can have unintended consequences on supply. The recent commissioning of MMR and RSV vaccines locally point to a future direction of travel.

“In the future, with greater volumes and types of vaccines being delivered to more locations, supply chains should be reviewed.”

The report said access to digital vaccine ordering facilities such as Immform was “important for early pharmacy adoption”.

“Pharmacies need to be able to order vaccines to meet demand, and commissioners need to know where stock is located to support the service,” it said.

Vaccines have prevented 154 million deaths since 1974

Referencing a study last year in The Lancet that revealed vaccinations have prevented 154 million deaths globally since 1974, the report said uptake across the UK is “high but is showing a worrying trend of decline”.

“Community pharmacy is well placed to increase the capacity of NHS vaccination programmes, whilst also providing ready capacity for the vaccines of the future,” the report said.

Welcoming the report, NPA vice-chair Olivier Picard said: “We very much back the idea of expanding the administration of vaccines in community pharmacies, which have a strong track record of success in prevention and public health.

“Our sector’s unmatched level of access and convenience makes this an obvious area for growth. It clearly fits the aspirations of the forthcoming NHS 10 Year Plan, to prevent sickness and move more care into communities.”

Picard insisted pharmacies have “consistently demonstrated their ability to improve vaccine uptake in diverse and generally underserved communities”.

“We are therefore pleased to support the development of this new report, which is both practical in its outlook and firmly evidence-based,” he said.

The report said pharmacy technicians, who were enabled to administer vaccinations under patient group directions after changes to legislation last year, should be able “to complete a consultation, gain consent and vaccinate without the input of another health care professional”.

Action is needed now to prevent further decline in vaccine uptake

Company Chemists' Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison, who hosted the report's launch at the House of Commons, warned vaccine uptake in the UK was falling and called for "action now to prevent further decline".

"Community pharmacy has a strong track record in administering flu and Covid vaccines," he said. "Pharmacists are highly trusted by local communities and already play a huge role in community relations, combating misinformation and ensuring vaccines reach underserved communities.

"It’s time to awaken the sleeping giant that is community pharmacy and commission pharmacies to administer more NHS vaccines. With people typically visiting their community pharmacist twelve times more than their GP, this is a no-brainer."