Key Summary
- Pharmacies saved hundreds of thousands of lives by delivering 40m vaccinations at the height of the Covid pandemic.
- Gregg said the government is playing with people’s lives if it does not ensure there is a strong pharmacy network.
- The inquiry report said the risks of the Covid-19 vaccines were managed and they were far outweighed by the benefits.
National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg said on Thursday (16) that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the pharmacies had saved many lives and a strong pharmacy network can play a vital role during healthcare emergencies.
Commenting on the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry's fourth report covering vaccines and therapeutics, Gregg said, “This report shows that pharmacies saved hundreds of thousands of lives by delivering 40m vaccinations at the height of the Covid pandemic.
“But this report suggests that many more people – particularly in deprived areas - could have been helped if the Government had turned to the pharmacy network earlier.
"The Government could help tackle a wave of vaccine hesitancy that has surged after the pandemic by allowing pharmacies to roll out more vaccination services to patients, particularly in areas where uptake is lower.
“Around 1,000 pharmacies have been forced to close for good because of underfunding since the pandemic. The Government is playing with people’s lives if it does not ensure there is a strong pharmacy network to improve people’s health today and is there ready for the inevitable health crises of the future.”
The Covid-19 inquiry report has warned the government must urgently rebuild public trust in vaccines and combat online misinformation ahead of a future pandemic.
Inquiry chair Heather Hallett wants the Government to deal with the problem of vaccine hesitancy and urged greater consideration of why some groups of people are unwilling or unable to access jabs.
In her foreword, Lady Hallett said even though some people were harmed by vaccines, there were effective systems in place to assess the safety and efficacy of the jabs during the pandemic.
She pointed out that the risks of the Covid-19 vaccines were managed and they were far outweighed by the benefits.
The report termed the vaccination programme "an extraordinary feat" as effective vaccines were developed, produced and delivered in record time.
The inquiry acknowledged the suffering of those for whom vaccines led to serious injury or death, but such cases were rare.
However, it called for an increase in compensation for the next of kin, as the current payment was not sufficient and needed reform.
