Pharmacy technicians provided more than 4,000 childhood flu vaccinations in schools on the Isle of Wight during a trial that was rolled out by Boots.

Nasal flu vaccines were administered by technicians to children aged four to 11 as the health and beauty giant explored what it described as “a new way of working.” Boots said it was the first time it had been done in the UK.

The 4,250 vaccines administered in total by the technicians during the six-week trial were prescribed by a Boots independent prescriber using a patient specific direction.

Technicians Sharon Bunch and Hannah Hine, who led the trial, were supported by independent prescriber Krupa Patel, with Boots insisting the team’s confidence grew “as they learned on-the-spot techniques to deal with the large number of children and their varied attitudes to having the vaccination.”

Boots UK’s chief pharmacist Marc Donovan, said: “I’d like to get to a future where pharmacy technicians can consistently offer a deeper level of care to our patients and this was a great opportunity to demonstrate the power of the whole pharmacy team.

“The trial was a success and we have many learnings to take forward about how we can develop this scheme and roll it out wider in the future.

“The incredible work of the team has led the way for independent prescribers and pharmacy technicians to work together in a new way, while also protecting the health of thousands of children.”

The role of pharmacy technicians has been critically scrutinised recently by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association.

In January it expressed its concern that technicians in community settings were not equipped “to take on additional clinical roles” because of years of underinvestment in training and remuneration and lack of a structured career framework.

Picture: PJPhoto69 (iStock)