Shocking pharmacists in England and Wales are not eligible, says RPS as it demands free flu jabs for pharmacy teams

Date:

Share post:

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called for free flu vaccinations for pharmacists in England and Wales, saying it’s “shocking” that they are not eligible despite working on the frontline throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The RPS has urged the NHS to offer free flu jabs for all pharmacists following reports that pharmacy teams across primary care, including locum staff, would not be given access to free vaccinations.

RPS president Claire Anderson said it was “shocking that pharmacists in England and Wales” were not eligible for free flu vaccinations to protect themselves and the public who visit them regularly.

“As we have seen over the past eighteen months, pharmacists are not dispensable and we are therefore calling on the NHS to offer free flu vaccinations to pharmacists and pharmacy teams in both England and Wales, as is the case in Scotland,” Anderson said.

Community pharmacy and general practice pharmacy teams will be included in the NHS Scotland flu vaccination programme this year, and RPS says it now wants the situation in England and Wales reviewed urgently.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Current Issue October 2023

Related articles

Jhoots Pharmacy acquires 36 community pharmacies with HSBC UK funding

The £17.4 million deal is expected to protect 212 jobs and create up to 130 new roles  Leading health...

England lost more than 1,000 pharmacies in the last eight years, says CCA

Community pharmacies are currently facing a worrying mix of funding, workforce, and workload pressures The Company Chemists’ Association...

NHS care delays led to 112 deaths, harmed 8,000 people in England last year

The number of patients dying due to care delays have risen more than fivefold over the last three...

Whitworth Chemists puts six high-dispensing Blackpool pharmacies up for sale

The family-owned business has decided to sell all 34 pharmacies across the North of England Whitworth Chemists Limited...