A spokesperson for NHSE told C+D this week (August 7) that it is working with vaccination sites on co-administering both jabs “where possible” as part of the upcoming autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes.
NHSE is “working with vaccine sites to ensure that a growing number offer both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at the same time where possible” to make it “more convenient” for patients, they said.
There will be an “additional payment available for a double jab in a single visit”, with a combined payment of £17.12 for community pharmacies, they added.
Read more: ‘Defies logic’: COVID jab fee plummets 25% as service opens to all pharmacies
However, GP practices will receive a fee of £17.60 for co-administering the vaccines, they told C+D.
Sites that sign up for co-administering the jabs will also receive a £10 supplement for housebound patients, the spokesperson said.
It comes as Community Pharmacy England (CPE) branded a 25% drop in the fees for COVID vaccinations - at the same time as the service is made available to more pharmacies - as illogical.
Read more: ‘Deeply frustrating’: CPE slams frozen flu funding amid possible delays to service
The negotiator said that in discussions on fees, NHSE stated it was “reducing the fee as pharmacy owners would have an increased opportunity to co-administer COVID-19 and flu vaccinations”.
And CPE also slammed a “deeply frustrating” decision to freeze the level of funding for the flu vaccination service for a further year, as well as possible delays to the start of the service.
When not co-administered, pharmacies will be paid a £7.54 fee for delivering COVID-19 jabs and £9.58 plus the cost of the vaccine and an allowance for VAT for delivering flu jabs.
Both vaccination services are expected to begin in October.
