Responding to the Government’s announcement that the NHS flu vaccination programme is to be extended to all children in the UK, Rob Darracott, Chief Executive of Pharmacy Voice said:
“The Government’s decision means that the NHS will have to deliver many millions more flu vaccinations in years to come. The scale of the task of vaccinating adults in at-risk groups is already considerable with targets in some areas not achieved. We hope the NHS will take the opportunity to reflect on the need to engage a wide provider base in the NHS vaccination programme overall. Community pharmacists are ideally placed to administer vaccines in a way that is convenient for the public and provides value for money for the NHS”.
“Many pharmacies already provide the flu vaccine privately, but the NHS currently only commissions the service from pharmacies in a few areas; however, where this does occur, feedback from patients on the quality and convenience has been overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to discussing with the Department of Health and Public Health England how community pharmacy can meet NHS targets in the future, for children and adults.”
The NHS flu vaccination programme is to be extended to children in 2014.
