Reform report calls for expansion of adult vaccination services in community pharmacies

A new report urges for community pharmacies to be given "advanced services" status for all adult vaccinations; CCA welcomes the move 

In a compelling case for expanding the role of community pharmacies in the UK's vaccination efforts, a new report by a major think-tank has called on NHS England to designate all adult vaccinations as 'advanced services' under the next Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF).

Published in July this year, the report by Reform discusses the power of prevention and highlights the need to boost vaccine uptakes for better patient outcomes.

Calling for the NHSE to allow the 'advanced services' to be routinely delivered by community pharmacies, the report highlights the proven capacity of community pharmacists to reach a wide demographic, particularly in underserved areas.

It also emphasises on the strategic advantage of utilising community pharmacies which often have more flexible hours and remain open during the evenings and weekends, making them highly accessible to the public.

“Convenience could be greatly improved by making better use of existing assets, including community pharmacies,” the report states.

Early evidence highlighted in the report suggests that involving pharmacies in the administration of “catch-up” vaccines, such as the MMR vaccine, has positively impacted uptake rates.

Moreover, it stresses the importance of better integration of data systems between general practices and pharmacies.

Currently, the lack of real-time data sharing on individuals’ vaccination status hinders the potential for "opportunistic vaccinations"—a key element of NHS England's vaccine strategy.

The report also calls for NHS England to extend the same data integration standards currently applied to antibiotics, blood pressure checks, and contraceptive prescriptions to all new vaccination services.

Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of the Company Chemists’ Association (CCA), welcomed the report’s findings and recommendations.

“We are delighted that the report recognises the important and growing role of community pharmacies in administering vaccines and driving uptake," said Harrison.

"Reform’s recommendation that the next contractual framework should define all adult vaccinations as ‘advanced services’ is a no-brainer.

"This would make it easier for pharmacies to deliver the vaccinations that patients and the public need.

"We urge the Government and NHS England to take this recommendation forward."

Harrison further emphasised the potential for community pharmacies to become the primary providers of adult vaccinations, citing their accessibility and vital role in reaching underserved communities.

He echoed the report's call for better remuneration for future vaccination services, arguing that this would reflect NHS England’s recognition of the "extraordinary power" of immunisation and the broader cost savings vaccines provide within the health system.

The report includes several other recommendations aimed at increasing vaccine uptake, particularly through better leveraging existing healthcare infrastructure.

The CCA, which contributed to the report, believes that with the right support, community pharmacies could play an even more significant role in the nation’s public health strategy.