15 October 2023 , 16:20
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Nearly half of all coronavirus vaccinations this year have been injected in community pharmacies, campaigners revealed amid growing fears for local chemists.
More than two million Covid-19 doses have been jabbed in pharmacies so far in 2023 - freeing up hospital and GP practices to deal with other patients. The Company Chemists’ Association, which represents about 5,500 outlets including pharmacies run by Boots, Lloyds and Superdrug, said: “We are now fast reaching a tipping point when pharmacies will overtake GPs and administer the majority of Covid vaccines.”
In 2021, the vital vaccination programme was originally designed to be delivered mainly by hospitals and mass vaccination centres. But as the pandemic eased and coronavirus injections became more routine, jabs have increasingly taken place in community pharmacies.
In total, they have provided almost a quarter of all Covid-19 vaccinations in England. More than a third were in the most deprived communities, according to the CCA.
Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: “Community pharmacy is the anchor of the Covid vaccination programme. However, the true benefits of community pharmacy will not be realised without change. This year alone, community pharmacy has provided nearly half of all Covid vaccines and stands ready to help turbo-charge the rollout during this winter period.”
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A nine-page paper compiled by the CCA, and seen by the Mirror, says: “There are several advantages for both patients and the NHS in having community pharmacies lead the national vaccination programme. Crucially, community pharmacies provide greater access through their presence on high streets and retail parks with access to parking and longer opening hours.
“These pharmacies are also located in many of the most deprived communities. This access and reach increases uptake in underserved groups. The growing pressures on the NHS mean that the ability to ensure the best possible uptake, without impacting other critical patient services, is vitally important. Using community pharmacy reduces the impact on other services, whilst also helping to reduce health inequalities.”
However, Mr Harrison again raised fears over funding, warning “pharmacies are underfunded by more than £67,000 every year”, risking closures.
Last month, MPs revealed concerns about “pharmacy wastelands” amid growing anger at the closure of high street chemists. Some 720 have shut in seven years and analysts believe up to 1,000 could be permanently closed by January. Mr Harrison told the Mirror: “Unfortunately, core funding remains a major issue.”
Shadow Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill said: “Community pharmacists play a key role in vaccinating the public and taking the pressure off overstretched GPs. It is high time for us to realise the potential of community pharmacies - they have so much more to offer our NHS, but the Conservative Government is holding them back. We will put community pharmacies at the heart of our reforms to build a Neighbourhood Health Service, so people can easily get the help they need on their doorstep.”
The Mirror is campaigning to save family chemists.