Local pharmacies will be able to vaccinate toddlers against flu for the first time ever from next month, NHS England (NHSE) announced today (September 24).
NHSE said in a statement that “around 4,000 pharmacies” have signed up to provide vaccinations for two and three year old children starting from October 1.
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Parents of toddlers can access “walk-in and booked flu vaccine appointments” at thousands of community pharmacies across the country, NHSE said.
It added that the flu vaccine is typically administered to young children “as a quick, painless nasal spray”.
“Easier than ever”
Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said parents can now “pop into a pharmacy in their local high street or supermarket” to protect their toddlers against flu ahead of the winter months.
“Flu can make young children and toddlers seriously unwell, and vaccination is the best way to shield them, so we’re making it easier than ever before to get the vaccine closer to home,” he added.
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National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chief Henry Gregg said that the NHS “utilising pharmacies” to provide children’s vaccinations is “something we have long called for”.
“Pharmacies are quick and convenient to access for patients and the government should use them for more NHS vaccination campaigns, if they are to maximise take-up and prevent more serious illness,” he added.
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NHSE said the expansion of vaccination services to pharmacies is “a key example” of the government’s efforts to shift healthcare “from sickness to prevention” as part of its 10-year plan for the NHS.
It added that pharmacy flu vaccinations will also be rolled out to all eligible adults from October 1.
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It comes after CPE announced in July that it had agreed to the introduction of a “one-season trial of a new flu vaccination service for children aged two to three years” following negotiations with NHSE.
The new pilot service aims to increase uptake of the vaccine among the cohort, which is normally offered flu vaccines via their general practice - while older children are offered them at school, the pharmacy regulator said.
Read more: Pharmacies to trial children’s flu vaccine service from October
CPE also revealed in August that the DH had imposed a frozen service fee for the upcoming NHS adult flu vaccination programme.
It said at the time that the pharmacy fee will remain at £9.58 - the same as that paid in the previous six flu seasons - following the DH’s “refusal to increase” it.
