NHS England (NHSE) may “stand-up” community pharmacy to deliver vaccinations in the event of another pandemic, according to its pandemic response framework published yesterday (July 15).

Pandemics remain a “top risk for the UK”, according to the framework document, which outlines the roles and responsibilities that NHSE will adopt in the event of a pandemic.

It said that experts believe the “most likely” cause of a future pandemic is a respiratory virus, although the government is planning for a range of scenarios.

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The document predicted that a pandemic specific vaccine (PSV) would only be available four to six months after a “pandemic agent” is identified “at the earliest”.

The PSV would be distributed to people at “increased risk” first during the “early months” of a pandemic because there will be “insufficient vaccine initially to launch a mass vaccination campaign”, NHSE said, adding that this would be a “significant undertaking”.

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It set out that vaccinations would be delivered by “primary care” and occupational health for NHS workers.

But this rollout “may be augmented” by community pharmacies and other “extraordinary arrangements in primary care”, as well as “mass vaccination services”, it added.

NHSE said that its framework document will be updated “as necessary” once the COVID-19 inquiry’s recommendations are published.

 

Antibiotic stockpiling

 

According to the document, “a range of antibiotics have been stockpiled” for the treatment of “secondary complications” in a pandemic such as bacterial pneumonias.

In the event of a pandemic, these would be distributed “through the usual distribution mechanisms” including wholesaler networks, it said.

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NHSE added that these antibiotics would “largely” be used in secondary care, although it allowed for “some primary care demand”.

The commissioner also said that other medicines such as steroids may be identified as “key treatments” depending on the type of pandemic experienced.

 

“Essential services”

 

NHSE’s framework set out that the primary care sector’s “focus” during a pandemic will be supporting “public health messaging about self-care”, maintaining “essential services” to prioritise the most at-risk patients and making sure patients are “as prepared as possible for a pandemic”.

It said that “GPs and other healthcare professionals” should be kept “aware of local capacity” in acute, primary and integrated urgent care, as well as social care facilities, and that local resilience forums should “ensure consideration of primary care issues”.

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The document anticipated that primary care would likely see a “change in demand for certain treatments” in a pandemic setting, which may require treatment to be offered “via telephone, email or video consultation”.

A pandemic could leave a “lasting impact on infrastructure” in primary care due to its “small business” nature and reliance on part-time and locum workers, it acknowledged.

In 2021, then-health secretary Sajid Javid praised the “starring role” played by community pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the sector remained open to the public, distributed lateral flow tests and took part in the national vaccination programme.