Virus

The national commissioner plans to “stand up” community pharmacy in a future pandemic situation if vaccination rollout needs to be “augmented”, it has revealed.

Thousands more pharmacies in England will offer a COVID-19 vaccination service this season despite slashed fees and a confusing start to the programme, C+D has learned.

“Unique” results have shown a 20% relative reduction in dementia for people who receive a shingles vaccine, according to new research. 

Sanofi has launched its inactive hepatitis A vaccine for use in children in the UK, it has announced.

Pharmacists have reported struggling to get hold of medicines such as Lemsip amid a significant increase in demand for cold and flu treatments.

NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) has confirmed when pharmacies will begin delivering the flu vaccination and COVID-19 booster programmes, with patients set to receive Moderna’s “new next generation bivalent” jab. 

With demand for COVID-19 vaccines expected to rocket in the upcoming season, a group of 20 pharmacy students has been trained to administer jabs to lend a helping hand

Manufacturers expect to meet pharmacies’ additional demand for flu vaccines in England following the government’s decision to walk back on excluding 50-64-year-olds from free jabs in the upcoming season, they have told C+D.

Decision makers should ensure the second COVID-19 booster dose programme is “as red tape-free as possible” for pharmacies, “to ensure [a] smooth delivery of the programme”, AIMp chief Leyla Hannbeck has told C+D.

Community pharmacy-led vaccination sites should be the main provider of COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged between five and 11, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) has said.