NHSE to commission 50 community pharmacies for RSV vaccinations starting next month

The RSV vaccine will be provided to all adults turning 75 years on or after 1 September 2024, as well as to all women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant

NHS England plans to commission up to 50 community pharmacies to provide respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines starting in September 2024.

A contract notice published on 22 July 2024 announced that the Community Pharmacy RSV Vaccination will be offered within the East of England Region.

According to the NHSE, these 50 contractors will be selected from two Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) - NHS Mid and South Essex ICB and Suffolk and North East Essex ICB - to ensure an even geographical spread.

The services will begin in September 2024 and continue until 31 March 2027, with an option to extend for 24 months until 31 March 2029.

Following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendation, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced in June the introduction of two new RSV vaccination programmes starting on 1 September 2024.

These programmes will target older adults turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024 and all women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant to protect infants.

The adult programme will be primarily commissioned through general practice, while vaccinations during pregnancy will mainly be commissioned through NHS Trusts.

However, NHS England also noted in its letter to healthcare systems that some community pharmacies would also be commissioned to help deliver the programme.

RSV is a virus that typically causes mild respiratory illness but can lead to more severe respiratory disease in vulnerable groups, including older adults and infants.

The tender notice from NHS England stated that pharmacies will receive an Item of Service (IoS) fee of £9.58 for each RSV vaccine administered to eligible patients.

The deadline for responses to the invitation to tender (ITT) is 12:00 PM (Midday) on 7 August 2024.