Pharmacy leaders have urged eligible patients to come forward and book their vaccinations to help protect them against potentially serious winter illnesses.
Those eligible for an NHS flu vaccine at a community pharmacy include people aged 65 and over, children aged 2-3 years old, at-risk children aged 2 to under 18 and people in certain clinical risk groups. Pharmacies are also offering vaccination to those experiencing homelessness.
Pregnant women have been eligible for a flu vaccine since 1st September.
Meanwhile, those eligible for the Covid vaccine include those aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults and those with weakened immune systems because of a health condition or treatment. Patients should check their eligibility on the NHS website before booking.
Many pharmacies also offer private vaccination services for people who are not eligible under the NHS programme.
Pharmacy leaders have hailed the efforts of pharmacists to provide vital protection for those who need it the most, with 9,400 pharmacies having signed up to deliver flu vaccines, over 90 per cent of all pharmacies in England.
Similarly, 7200 pharmacies have also signed up to participate in the Covid vaccine programme.
More patients are now choosing to be vaccinated by their local pharmacy, and eligible patients can access vaccination through community pharmacy regardless of which GP practice they are registered with.
In 2025/2026 28 per cent of over 65's who received their flu vaccine did so in a pharmacy, compared to just 8 per cent in 2019/20, over triple the number according to National Pharmacy Association analysis of government figures.
NHS data shows that pharmacies delivered 15 per cent more flu jabs last year compared to the previous campaign, an increase of nearly one million flu vaccinations in the space of just two years.
Pharmacy leaders have urged the NHS to commission pharmacies to be included in more campaigns to increase access to vaccines.
This could include using pharmacies to provide a catch-up programme to young people who missed out on their original vaccines. NPA analysis of uptake data for teenagers for a number of routine vaccines, often provided in schools, found a drop off of around a quarter since the pandemic.
Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association said:
“It’s really important that the millions of people eligible for flu and covid vaccines come forward for vaccination from today, with 90 per cent of pharmacies offering this service on their high streets.
“Patients should make sure they have carefully checked they are eligible before booking through the NHS website, with eligibility for Covid vaccines being more limited than eligibility for the flu programme. Many pharmacies do offer private jabs for those who want them.
“We’re incredibly proud of the growing role pharmacies are playing in protecting the health of the nation. Pharmacies have vaccinated millions of patients against flu and covid and are becoming the first port of call for a growing number of patients for vaccines.
“Pharmacies are highly accessible and trusted places to be vaccinated in, based on people’s doorsteps.
“The NHS should further utilise this role and commission pharmacies to help in more vaccination campaigns, including tackling a worrying drop off in take-up among school age children since the pandemic.”
Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, said:
“Community pharmacies have become an increasingly important part of the NHS vaccination programme.
"As winter approaches, we urge everyone who is eligible to come forward for their Covid-19 and flu vaccinations. Community pharmacies provide a convenient and accessible option, helping people protect themselves and those around them.
"Pharmacies have shown time and again that they can deliver vaccination programmes at scale in a safe and accessible manner. We want to see the NHS build on this success by making greater use of community pharmacy to improve access to a wider range of vaccinations and help increase uptake.”
Janet Morrison OBE, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said:
“Community pharmacies are at the heart of their local communities helping people to stay healthy, and their role in the NHS vaccination programmes for flu and Covid make it easier for people to protect themselves this winter.
“Vaccination remains one of the best ways to reduce the risk of serious illness and to ease pressure on the NHS. Community pharmacists have long vaccinated adults against flu and can now also vaccinate eligible children, as well as offering booster Covid vaccines for the most vulnerable. We would encourage everyone who is eligible to talk to your local pharmacist today about getting you and your loved ones protected.
“Given the sector’s reach, accessibility and trusted relationships with patients, we believe commissioning of pharmacies to provide further NHS vaccinations would help boost uptake.”
