It comes as concerns were raised about staffing issues including "double cover", as well as training for pharmacy technicians and locums, the multiple and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) confirmed in a joint statement released yesterday (December 6).

Worries over AAH deliveries and managing the portal patients use to book their jabs were also raised, according to the statement.

It followed the latest meeting between Lloydspharmacy management and the PDA on October 12 to discuss matters of interest with senior representatives from the multiple.

“It was agreed that communication over best practice would be shared with teams, data on technician service delivery would be analysed and discussed at a later date,” Lloydspharmacy and the PDA confirmed.

“Issues around booking portal appointment unblocking,” would also be investigated, they added.

Read more: ‘Fantastic’ uptake: Number of pharmacy flu jabs edges closer to 1m mark

A spokesperson for Lloydspharmacy confirmed to C+D today that the multiple “had a few days of disruption to our flu service as the beginning of the season”.

But “our team worked quickly to resolve them which minimised any ongoing impact to our service”, they added.

Record breaking flu season

Last year, over half a million flu vaccines were administered nationwide across Lloydspharmacy stores – a year-on-year increase of 11%.

In July, the multiple opened its booking system for flu jab appointments starting in September. It predicted a further 20% increase on last year’s flu jab bookings, as patients look to mitigate the effects of increased socialising and international travel without COVID-19 restrictions.

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Last year also saw a record-breaking year for the national community pharmacy flu vaccine rollout, with teams in England smashing their previous flu jab administration record within just two months of launching the 2021/22 service.

A total of 4.79 million flu vaccinations were administered by pharmacy teams in England in the 2021/22 season.

As of Tuesday (December 5), a total of 4.6 million flu vaccinations had been delivered by pharmacy teams through the 2022/23 service, according to data collated by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.