The Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) today (June 17) revealed that community pharmacies “administered over four million flu vaccines across England in the 2024/25 winter flu season” - the “highest number...[delivered] outside of the pandemic”.
This represents “nearly a 10% growth in the number of flu vaccines administered compared to 2023/24”, it said.
Read more: DH ‘exploring’ NHS childhood flu jab rollout in pharmacies
CCA analysis of NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) data found that 9,291 pharmacies participated in the 2024/25 programme, with the average participating pharmacy administering “over 400 vaccines”.
And there were 938 pharmacies that delivered “more than 1,000 vaccines in the single season”, it added.
“The number of flu vaccines administered by community pharmacy shows a clear growth trend since national commissioning began in 2015,” it said.
“Strong partner”
The trade association’s analysis of the data - which covers all community pharmacies in England between September 2024 and February 2025 - also found that “more vaccines were administered in the most deprived communities in line with previous years”.
CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said that “the success of last winter’s flu vaccine programme shows that community pharmacy is a strong partner to the NHS.”
Read more: Flu: ‘No changes’ to eligibility as autumn start dates announced
The CCA also urged the NHS to “build on the success of recent respiratory syncytial (RSV)/pertussis (whooping cough) early adopters and commission pharmacies to deliver a wide range of NHS vaccination – including pneumonia, shingles, meningitis and routine childhood vaccinations”.
“Taken together, this would free up 10 million GP vaccination appointments each year, allowing GPs to focus on delivering care to patients with more complex care needs,” it said.
“Need to move faster”
Harrison said that the “recent regional commissioning of pharmacies to deliver RSV and pertussis vaccines shows that health systems are beginning to take advantage of the opportunity”.
But he stressed that “with growing demand on NHS services and variability in uptake, there is a need to move faster and further”, adding that “commissioning all adult vaccines from community pharmacy is the logical next step”.
It comes after it was revealed in March that commissioners were looking for 66 pharmacies in the Midlands to offer an RSV and pertussis vaccination service.
Read more: RSV jab pilot to expand by ‘up to’ 200 pharmacies
And the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) announced in April that NHS England (NHSE) will “expand and support evaluation of the community pharmacy [RSV] vaccination offer by up to 200 sites in identified target areas”.
Meanwhile, the CCA welcomed the launch of a report in February calling for community pharmacy to be “harnessed” to combat falling vaccine uptake.
Earlier this month, the DH revealed that it is “exploring the use” of community pharmacies to deliver the childhood flu national immunisation programme.
