Flu jab data from 9,846 pharmacy companies – some of which operated via more than one premises – was collated by NHS BSA for the 2021/22 season.

Southampton-based family business A R Pharmacy administered a whopping 10,050 vaccinations during this period, securing another achievement for the pharmacy that last year saw its superintendent James Tibbs (pictured below) crowned Pharmacist of the Year at the C+D Awards.

Mr Tibbs told C+D today (June 1) that the team used the “opportunity” provided by its COVID-19 vaccination centre to “access” patients who were also eligible for their flu jab. “As can be seen, this has worked very effectively,” he commented.

“Special recognition” should go to the branch’s other pharmacists Liam O’Sullivan and Josephine Tan, “who have worked tirelessly to maintain the COVID-19 vaccination and flu jab centre”, he said.

Although providing flu vaccinations in a community pharmacy setting is “vital”, the pharmacy’s strong links with its local primary care network and GP surgeries “mean we still maintain a close and trusting relationship with them, and that is the key to the success”, he added.

 

Other top performers

 

Meanwhile, the team at Broadway Pharmacy – a single-site pharmacy based in Preston, Lancashire – carried out an impressive 8,740 vaccinations during the last flu season.

They were closely followed by Fastheal Pharmacy in Woking, Surrey, which delivered 8,020 jabs, and Donnington Pharmacy in Telford, which completed 7,999 vaccinations.

Independent Pharmacy Care Direct – which has eight branches in West Yorkshire – delivered 17,246 flu jabs and Medicare Chemists, also counting eight branches in West Yorkshire, carried out 9,304 jabs.

Medicare Chemists director Asghar Khan told C+D that a “very high percentage” of patients were pleased with the service provided by his branches.

“Going forward, I think this is positive evidence to suggest the possibility of expanding pharmacist vaccination services to include administration of other common vaccines,” he said.

Pharmacy2U carried out 39,239 jabs across numerous vaccination clinics around England, delivering the flu vaccination service for the second year after starting to offer it during the 2020/21 season.

 

"Phenomenal" success for community pharmacy

 

Community pharmacies in England carried out 4.85 million vaccinations under the national pharmacy flu service in 2021/22, a 75% increase on the previous year’s total.

However, this number could be even higher because pharmacy contractors can claim fees for flu jabs administered within six months of their administration or by August 31, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) specified in an update last night (May 31).

According to provisional data analysed by PSNC earlier this year, a staggering 2,211,728 doses were given to those aged between 50 and 64 in 2021/22.

This cohort will no longer be eligible for a free jab this upcoming flu season, which PSNC said in April is likely to “have a downwards impact on the number of vaccinations administered by community pharmacies in the season ahead”.

Commenting on the overall figure of jabs delivered in 2021/22, PSNC CEO Janet Morrison said: “The ability of pharmacy teams to deliver the healthcare services that communities need, despite the challenges and pressures this winter, is simply phenomenal.”