Key Summary
- The MenB vaccination service is only being commissioned from community pharmacies, and will commence on 20 July.
- Pharmacy owners who want to provide the service must first complete an electronic registration declaration.
- Pharmacies to offer MenB vaccination appointments through the National Booking Service.
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has said that pharmacy owners who decide to provide the Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination service will be paid £10.06 per vaccine.
This was decided following the negotiations CPE had with the government on the funding for the service.
The CPE said that to recognise the work involved in establishing the service and to encourage uptake, pharmacies will also be eligible for £300, once at least one vaccination has been administered, and £400 if 100 or more vaccinations are administered by the end of March 2027.
The funding for the service is from the NHS vaccination budget, not the CPCF contract sum, it added.
Pharmacy owners who want to provide the service must first complete an electronic registration declaration, with a deadline of 11.59 pm on 20 July.
Registrations submitted after this time will not be accepted, and the pharmacy will not be able to provide the service.
The MenB vaccination service is only being commissioned from community pharmacies, and it will commence on 20 July.
Eligibility
This two-dose vaccination aims to protect young people heading to universities ahead of the start of term in autumn 2026.
All Year 13 students (born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008) will be eligible for the vaccine.
The other eligible categories include those under-25s entering university or residential further education for the first time; and international students under 25 years old entering their first year of university.
The size of the eligible cohort of patients is estimated to be around one million people, and vaccinations will be provided till 31 March next year.
Appointments
Pharmacy contractors must offer MenB vaccination appointments through the National Booking Service (NBS).
Requirements of using the NBS, include ensuring that accurate information is published and appointments and clinic times are uploaded in a timely way to allow patients to book their slots.
The vaccine will be provided to pharmacies by NHS England from centrally procured stock, and pharmacy contractors must ensure that there is a standard operating procedure (SOP) in place, including procedures to ensure cold chain integrity.
Welcome move: CCA
Company Chemists' Association Malcolm Harrison said, “We welcome the publication of further details on the Meningitis B service specification. The programme demonstrates the important role community pharmacies can play in delivering accessible vaccination services and protecting the public from serious diseases.
"Use of the NBS ensures that patients have a consistent route to booking their vaccination appointments. With the role of community pharmacy in vaccination programmes growing, it is now imperative that action is taken to ensure the NBS integrates effectively with pharmacies' own proprietary booking systems. This will reduce the possibility of missed or double-booked appointments and also any unnecessary workload that comes from pharmacy teams having to manage two systems simultaneously.
"This service is another example of how community pharmacy can support wider NHS prevention and vaccination ambitions. Through the Pharmacy Vaccinations Development Group, the CCA has consistently highlighted opportunities for pharmacies to play a greater role in vaccine delivery to improve access and uptake.”
