Seasonal Vaccination Services – COVID-19 and Adult Flu FAQs

Q. How do pharmacy owners inform NHS England that they intend to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and/or Adult Flu Vaccinations?
Pharmacy owners must use the NHS Business Service Authority’s (NHSBSA) Manage Your Service (MYS) portal to register to provide the service.

Q. Will I have to re-register each year via MYS to provide COVID-19 and or adult flu vaccinations?
Yes.

Q. Can distance selling premises pharmacies provide the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
Yes, however, distance selling premises (DSP) pharmacies are not permitted to provide vaccinations to patients at the pharmacy premises. With consent from the Commissioner, DSPs can provide vaccinations away from their pharmacy premises.

Q. My pharmacy has an LPS contract; will I be able to provide the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
All the services to be provided by an LPS pharmacy owner must be agreed between NHS England/the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the pharmacy and be included in the LPS contract. If they wish to provide the service, the LPS pharmacy owner should contact their local contract management team/ICB to propose a contract variation, to include the Seasonal Vaccination Services.

Q. What insurance should you have for the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
Advice should be sought from your insurance provider.

Q. Where can I obtain statistics from previous years on the elements of the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
Information on how many vaccinations have been provided under the Seasonal Vaccinations Service will be available via our Clinical services dashboard on the Clinical services statistics page when claims data is published by the NHSBSA.

Information on the national pharmacy Flu Vaccination Service for previous years can be found on the archived Flu Vaccination – Statistics page.

Q. My pharmacy does not have a consultation room; can I provide the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
No. Having a consultation room which meets the applicable requirements of the Pharmacy Regulations is a prerequisite for provision of the Seasonal Vaccination Services (except for DSPs).

Vaccinations can be offered in any area of the pharmacy (except for in DSPs) where suitable facilities are available and patient confidentiality and dignity is able to be respected. However, the vaccination must take place in the consultation room wherever the patient expresses this preference.

DSP pharmacies are not permitted to provide vaccinations to patients at the pharmacy premises, so don’t need a consultation room there.

Q. We are a distance selling pharmacy without a consultation room; can I provide the Seasonal Vaccination Services to patients in their own homes?
Yes, provided you have obtained prior consent from the Commissioner to provide vaccinations away from your pharmacy premises.

Q. Does a pharmacy owner have to make a ‘prescription register’ entry for each administration of vaccine under the patient group directions (PGD) or the Vaccine Group Directions (VGD)?
No. The clinical records required to be maintained by the PGD or VGD, made on the date of administration in the pharmacy’s clinical services IT system meet the requirements to make records in the Human Medicines Regulations.

Q. Do pharmacists, pharmacy technicians (and other individuals authorised to work under the PGD or VGD) have to sign a copy of the PGD or VGD?
Yes, they must sign a copy of the PGD or VGD to indicate that they understand the requirements and agree to work under those requirements.

Q. Can the PGD or VGD be signed remotely (electronic signature) by the authorising manager, for example, from head office for all pharmacies in a group?
Yes. It is possible for the PGD or VGD to be signed remotely (electronic signature); however, the authorising manager still needs to be able to confirm that pharmacists, pharmacy technicians (and other individuals authorised to work under the PGD or VGD):

• Are aware of the service specification and requirements for provision of the service;
• Have demonstrated their competence to provide the service; and
• Have the organisation’s approval to provide the service.

Q. Should a copy of the signed PGD or VGD be kept at the pharmacy for each pharmacist, pharmacy technician (or other individuals authorised to work under the PGD) providing the service at the pharmacy?
Yes. The PGDs and VGDs state that a copy of them, with the completed practitioner authorisation sheet, should be retained and available at the pharmacy premises as a record of those practitioners authorised to work under the PGD or VGD.

Q. Does a pharmacy owner need to keep evidence of vaccinator competency for all individuals that deliver the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
Yes. The service specification states that pharmacy owners must keep evidence of competency relating to any staff that they employ/engage to deliver the service.

Q. What is the legal basis for the administration of COVID-19 and adult flu vaccinations in the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
PGDs or VGDs provide the legal authority for administering the vaccines.

Q. Can pharmacy staff other than a pharmacist administer the vaccine?
Yes. Under the authority of the PGD or VGD, vaccinations can be provided by any practitioner listed in the Qualifications and professional registration section of the PGD or VGD, which mirrors the groups of practitioners authorised to supply or administer medication via a PGD under current legislation.

However, the Responsible Pharmacist at the registered pharmacy premises is still professionally responsible for overseeing these services.

If the Responsible Pharmacist is unable to provide sufficient oversight, for example due to workload or where vaccinations are undertaken off the pharmacy premises, an on-site pharmacist or pharmacy technician responsible for the delivery of the service must be linked and work closely with the Responsible Pharmacist and Superintendent Pharmacist through an appropriate governance framework to ensure appropriate oversight of the service.

Under the authority of the VGD, those who are registered healthcare professionals who cannot operate under a PGD, and those who are not registered healthcare professionals, can administer a licensed COVID-19 vaccine and/or influenza vaccine, provided they are trained and competent to do so. The clinical assessment and consent process must be undertaken by a registered healthcare professional as defined within the VGD.

Q. Can a nurse administer the vaccine as part of the service?
Yes. However, the Responsible Pharmacist at the registered pharmacy premises is still professionally responsible for overseeing this service.

If the Responsible Pharmacist is unable to provide sufficient oversight, for example due to workload or where vaccinations are undertaken off the pharmacy premises, an on-site pharmacist or pharmacy technician responsible for the delivery of the service must be linked and work closely with the Responsible Pharmacist and Superintendent Pharmacist through an appropriate governance framework to ensure appropriate oversight of the service.

Q. Can a pharmacy technician administer the vaccine?
Yes, under the authority of the PGD or the VGD. However, the Responsible Pharmacist at the registered pharmacy premises is still professionally responsible for overseeing this service.

If the Responsible Pharmacist is unable to provide sufficient oversight, for example due to workload or where vaccinations are undertaken off the pharmacy premises, an on-site pharmacist or pharmacy technician responsible for the delivery of the service must be linked and work closely with the Responsible Pharmacist and Superintendent Pharmacist through an appropriate governance framework to ensure appropriate oversight of the service.

Q. Can pharmacy technicians supervise NHS vaccination services in a community pharmacy?
The Responsible Pharmacist at the registered pharmacy premises is professionally responsible for overseeing the service.

If the Responsible Pharmacist is unable to provide sufficient oversight, for example due to workload or where vaccinations are undertaken off the pharmacy premises, an on-site pharmacist or pharmacy technician responsible for the delivery of the service must be linked and work closely with the Responsible Pharmacist and Superintendent Pharmacist through an appropriate governance framework to ensure appropriate oversight of the service.

Q. Can pharmacy technicians provide clinical suitability assessments of patients who are due a vaccine under a VGD?
Yes. By virtue of being included as a professional in the registered healthcare group of professions that can vaccinate using PGDs, pharmacy technicians can provide all the stages set out in a VGD, including clinical assessment and obtaining patient consent.

Q. Can a pharmacist providing the service and qualified as an independent prescriber prescribe the vaccine for patients, rather than using the PGD or VGD?
No. The Advanced Service only uses PGDs or VGDs to authorise administration of the vaccine.

Q. Does the PGD or VGD authorise administration of the vaccines for patients not covered by the NHS, i.e. as a private service?
No. If pharmacies wish to provide a private COVID-19 or adult Flu Vaccination Service in addition to the Advanced Service, they need to ensure that other suitable PGDs are in place to allow provision of a private service.

Q. Do pharmacists, pharmacy technicians or other individuals authorised to work under the PGD or VGD have to send a copy of the signed PGD or VGD to NHS England or another organisation?
No. The signed PGD or VGD should be retained in the pharmacy where the vaccines are being administered.

Q. Can a pharmacy company with multiple pharmacies nominate one authorising manager for all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other individuals authorised to work under the PGD or VGD to sign the PGD or VGD, for example, the superintendent pharmacist?
Yes. It is for the pharmacy owner to determine who should be an authorising manager within their organisation.

Q. Who should complete the authorising manager declaration section on the PGD or VGD?
It is for the pharmacy owner to determine who should be an authorising manager within their organisation. The authorising manager’s role is to confirm that individuals providing the service:

• Are aware of the service specification and requirements for provision of the service;
• Have demonstrated their competence to provide the service; and
• Have the organisation’s approval to provide the service.

In certain circumstances, for example, a community pharmacy where the pharmacist who will administer vaccines is also the superintendent pharmacist and pharmacy owner, it may be necessary for the authorising manager to be the same person as the practitioner, though this situation should be avoided wherever possible.

Q. Do pharmacy owners now have the option to choose their own IT system, rather than having it selected for them?
Yes. Pharmacy owners can choose a clinical IT system to use for clinical records from a list of NHS-assured list.

Q. Does my pharmacy pay the system supplier directly?
No. NHS England will directly fund the suppliers for the 2026/27 financial year.

Q. Are all the systems the same?
NHS England has assessed all systems within an IT framework to ensure they can transfer the necessary data to GP practices, NHS England and the NHSBSA. However, suppliers may offer different interfaces and additional features beyond the baseline specification requirements.

Q. What key points should I consider when selecting a clinical IT system?
We have some key points for pharmacy owners to consider when selecting a clinical IT system. For further details, visit the switching webpage within the NHS Futures: Pharmacy Point of Care (PoC) hub (login required).

Q. Once a clinical IT system is selected, can this be changed?
Yes. Even after a system is selected, you can choose to use an alternative system if necessary, for instance, if the chosen system is no longer meeting your preferred requirements. However, see also the question below about using more than one IT system at the same time.

Q. Can I use an IT system that is not on the NHS England assured list?
No.

Q. Can I use more than one IT system at the same time?
No. Only one IT system can be used to record vaccinations in any calendar month except where it is necessary to make amendments to previously recorded vaccination events or where this has been agreed with NHS England during the transition to a new IT system.

Q. What are the knowledge and skills required in order to provide the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
The National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners sets out the knowledge and skills that healthcare professionals undertaking vaccination services need to have. In addition, training must including the specific modules on COVID-19 vaccinations and influenza vaccinations which are available on the e-learning for healthcare website, where general immunisation training modules can also be accessed.

NHS England has determined that individuals providing the Seasonal Vaccination Services need to attend face-to-face training for both injection technique and basic life support training periodically.

Pharmacy owners and vaccinators need to consider when it would be appropriate to attend refresher training or if ongoing competence of an individual vaccinator can be evidenced, without the need for face-to-face training.

An individual’s continued competence may be influenced by their prior experience vaccinating patients, including the overall number of vaccines administered and the regularity with which they administer vaccines.

The standards recommend that immunisers should keep a portfolio of completed competency checklists, knowledge test score sheets, reflective logs, completion of e-learning course certificates and certificates of attendance at immunisation training courses and updates. This will provide vaccinators with a means to be able to show evidence of completion of training and achievement of competence to both current and future employers. It will also provide useful evidence of continuing professional development for professional revalidation.

Q. Where can I undertake training to provide vaccination services?
A range of organisations provide training on vaccination. Some LPCs also arrange training, so you may want to check with your LPC about the availability of local training. A list of training providers is available on our Seasonal Vaccination Services page in the Training requirements and resources section.

Q. I completed face-to-face training covering injection technique and basic life support last year, but I have been told that unless I vaccinated over a specific number of patients last year, I will need to re-do the training again this year. Does this apply to this NHS Advanced service?
No, there is no training requirement linked to the vaccination of a specific number of patients within this service.

If you are providing private flu vaccinations (not as part of the NHS Seasonal Vaccination Services) there may be minimum activity requirements for your training to be valid; this should be verified with the private PGD provider.

Q. I completed face-to-face training for both injection technique and basic life support two years ago; do I need to complete face-to-face training again this year?
Face-to-face training should be completed periodically. This requirement means that individuals need to consider their competence and any additional requirements set by their employer to inform a decision on when completion of face-to face training is appropriate.

Vaccinators are expected to undertake the required training specified in the service specification and annual update training, to ensure their knowledge stays up to date with changes in practice and guidance.

Annual update training may involve self-directed learning, using relevant references sources, such as the Green Book and the annual flu letter. It may also include online training which is available from a range of providers.

A vaccinator is personally responsible for keeping their knowledge and skills up to date and relevant to their roles and responsibilities. The vaccinator should reflect on their current competencies and decide whether further learning is required.

Q. I completed face-to-face injection technique and basic life support training last year. Do I need to complete online refresher training this year?
The service specification requires that the specific modules on COVID-19 vaccinations and influenza vaccinations which are available on the e-learning for healthcare website have been completed.

There is no requirement in the service specification to complete online refresher training, but the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners expect vaccinators to undertake annual update training to ensure their knowledge stays up to date with changes in practice and guidance.

Individuals should undertake this training prior to commencing provision of the service each year, to ensure they have up-to-date knowledge in relation to the provision of flu vaccinations in that year and any related matters, such as current guidance on infection control. This update training can be undertaken in a variety of ways, including self-directed learning and use of relevant references sources, such as the Green Book and the annual flu letter. Training can also include the use of online training materials which are available from a range of providers.

Q. There is free COVID-19 vaccinations and influenza vaccinations training available for healthcare professionals on www.e-lfh.org.uk; if I study it and pass the assessments, does it count as annual update training?
These two modules are mandatory requirements to provide the service. Beyond these modules, it is up to individuals to determine how they wish to do annual update training that meets their needs. This could include, for example, completing CPPE learning, completing online training and assessments, reading relevant books/articles or watching videos.

Q. Is there any other training I should consider?
As well as training specifically on vaccination provision, pharmacy owners and individuals should consider training for themselves or their team on topics such as consultation skills or first aid, or even marketing or time management, as these may better equip them to provide the service. The core vaccination training will cover matters such as management of allergic reactions and the patient consultation.

Individuals may also wish to consider training to support their awareness and understanding of their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act. Support with this topic can be found on the Social Care Institute of Excellence website where there are a range of training resources.

Q. How will pharmacy owners determine that their vaccinators have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide the service?
Options for assessing this include pharmacists and pharmacy technicians completing the Vaccination services Declaration of Competence (DoC).

Alternatively, the competence of any vaccinators can be assured using the National minimum standards and core curriculum for vaccination training competency assessment tool in appendix A of the guidance.

This can be used as a self-assessment tool, an assessment tool for use with a supervisor or both depending on the previous experience of the vaccinator.

Q. Once a pharmacist or pharmacy technician has completed the DoC self-assessment framework and has printed and signed the statement of declaration, is the DoC process complete?
Once both documents have been completed and signed, the pharmacist or pharmacy technician will be able to demonstrate to the pharmacy owner that they are working for that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide the service. However, it is important to complete step 5 of the DoC process ‘Update your CPPE learning record’. This step confirms that the statement of declaration for Vaccination services has been signed.

Q. Since the requirement for face-to-face training for both injection technique and basic life support now needs to be completed periodically (previously this training was required every three years), will the DoC requirement also change so the requirements can be synchronised?
No. The DoC process remains unchanged; this needs to be completed every two years.

Q. If I am a pharmacy professional with a registered address in Wales or Scotland, but I will be working in an English community pharmacy providing the service, how can I access the DoC on the CPPE website?
Pharmacy professionals who work in England but live in Scotland or Wales can make a request to CPPE for their practice location to be changed on their database (telephone 0161 778 4000 or email info@cppe.ac.uk). This will allow the pharmacist or pharmacy technician access to learning and assessments plus the DoC. Every six months CPPE will automatically check if they still practise in England.

Q. The Vaccination services DoC provides a list of recommended learning and assessments; should all of these be completed?
This is a decision that needs to be made by the individual pharmacy professional. A pharmacy professional is personally responsible for keeping their knowledge and skills up to date, relevant to their roles and responsibilities and to meet any mandatory training requirements in the service specification. Working through the DoC system provides a pharmacy professional with the opportunity to reflect on their current competencies and identify and meet their learning and assessment needs.

The list of recommended learning and assessments will help pharmacy professionals to fill any gaps in their knowledge or competence to provide the Flu Vaccination Service.

Q. If a pharmacist has completed an independent prescribing course, does this mean they meet the Consultation Skills for Pharmacy Practice: Practice Standards for England, and can complete the core competency section in the Vaccination services DoC?
The wording in the core competency within the DoC states that pharmacy professionals should be actively working towards the Practice Standards. This is because developing consultation skills is an ongoing process throughout the career of every pharmacy professional.

The independent prescribing course will have provided a pharmacist with an element of training on consultation skills to support them in working towards the Practice Standards. However, it would be down to the individual pharmacist to download the Consultation Skills for Pharmacy Practice: Practice Standards for England to see whether they feel the training they have undertaken has sufficiently supported them or whether further learning would be beneficial.

If a pharmacist feels they meet the standards and have a good understanding of consultation skills due to the learning they have undertaken, they should attempt the consultation skills e-assessment, which will help assess their skills in this area and provide reassurance of competency.

Q. Is it a requirement to have accessed but not necessarily completed the Consultation Skills for Pharmacy Practice: e-assessment to be able to provide the Advanced Seasonal Vaccination Services?
Pharmacy professionals, are not required to have completed the Consultation Skills for Pharmacy Practice: e-assessment before completing the Vaccination services DoC; they are required to meet or be actively working towards the Consultation Skills for Pharmacy Practice Standards for England.

If you confirm that you are actively working towards the standards, you are declaring that you are undertaking the relevant learning and CPD to meet the standards. It is expected that you will have accessed the standards and associated learning to meet this requirement and that you will complete the assessment within 12 months of signing the DoC statement.

As a pharmacy professional, you should continuously seek to develop your consultation skills throughout your career and, therefore, this topic should regularly feature in your CPD plan. To access the assessment, go to the CPPE website. If you have not yet completed the assessment, you should be able to provide evidence of the consultation skills learning you have undertaken.

Q. I completed the DoC two years ago. Do I need to complete it again?
Yes, if this is your chosen method to confirm your competency. The DoC framework and statement of declaration need to be completed every two years. Alternatively, the competence of any vaccinators can be assured using the National minimum standards and core curriculum for vaccination training competency assessment tool in appendix A of the guidance.

This can be used as a self-assessment tool, an assessment tool for use with a supervisor or both depending on the previous experience of the vaccinator.

Q. Who does the recommendation for a period of supervised clinical practice apply to?
The National minimum standards and core curriculum for vaccination training competency assessment tool states that those new to immunisation should receive comprehensive foundation immunisation training, either through a face-to-face taught course or a blended approach of both e-learning and a face to face taught course. New immunisers should also have a period of supervised practice and support with a registered healthcare practitioner who is experienced, up to date and competent in immunisation.

Q. Does the recommendation for a period of supervised clinical practice apply to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who have previously been trained to vaccinate?
If you have vaccinated patients in the past and consider yourself to be an experienced vaccinator, supervised practice would only be required if you think it would benefit your professional practice, for example, if a long duration of time has passed since you last vaccinated patients.

Q. I am a pharmacy professional who is commencing immunisation training for the first time, so I can provide the Seasonal Vaccination Services. What are the steps I need to take?
If you are a new vaccinator we recommend the following steps:

• Undertake the free COVID-19 vaccinations and influenza vaccinations training available for healthcare professionals on www.e-lfh.org.uk;
• Undertake face-to-face training and any other learning directed by your vaccination training provider to meet the requirements set out in the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners;
• Assess your competence using the National minimum standards and core curriculum for vaccination training competency assessment tool in appendix A of the guidance or complete the Vaccination Services DoC on the CPPE website.
• Undertake a period of supervised practice with a registered healthcare practitioner who is experienced, up to date and competent in immunisation; then
• Should any additional training need be identified during your supervised practice, undertake further training and then review your competence using your chosen competency assessment tool.

Q. What is the idea behind undertaking a period of supervised practice?
In addition to acquiring knowledge through a theoretical taught course, practitioners need to develop clinical skills in immunisation and apply their knowledge in practice. A period of supervised practice will allow acquisition and observation of clinical skills and application of knowledge to practice when the practitioner is new to immunisation.

Q. What happens during a period of supervised practice?

Before starting to give immunisations, it is recommended that all new immunisers should spend time with an experienced registered practitioner, such as an experienced pharmacist or pharmacy technician immuniser, who has undertaken training that meets the national minimum standards and is experienced in advising about immunisation and giving vaccines. The new immuniser should have the opportunity in these sessions to observe and discuss relevant issues with the experienced practitioner.

Those new to their role in immunisation should also demonstrate an appropriate standard of practice to their supervisor. This supervised practice should be structured and robust and follow a clear, comprehensive checklist so each step of the consultation is considered. A competency checklist such as that included in Appendix A of the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners should be used for formal assessment and sign-off of the practitioner’s clinical competency in immunisation. A copy of the completed checklist should be retained in the practitioner’s personnel file.

Q. How long should a period of supervised clinical practice be?
UKHSA advise that there is no agreement or evidence as to how many times supervised practice should occur, but both the supervisor and new practitioner need to feel confident that the practitioner has the necessary skills and knowledge to advise on and/or administer vaccines. If the practitioner administers a range of different vaccines to patients of different ages, their supervisor should ensure this is considered and they should be given the opportunity to observe and be assessed on this range.

Q. Are there any qualifications which apply to the experienced healthcare practitioner?
The supervisor does not require a formal teaching and assessing qualification but should be competent in immunisation and can make an assessment of a new immuniser’s knowledge and skills. One of the supervisor’s key roles is to go through the assessment document with the new immuniser and assure themselves that the new immuniser has the appropriate level of knowledge and skill to undertake their role in immunisation.

Q. Can another pharmacist or pharmacy technician act as the experienced healthcare practitioner within a period of supervised clinical practice?
Yes, if the pharmacist or pharmacy technician is competent in immunisation and can assess a new immuniser’s knowledge and skills.

Q. How can a period of supervised clinical practice be arranged?
There are several ways a supervision session could be arranged, for example:

• At the point of arranging face-to-face immunisation training, trainees could enquire whether the training provider could arrange such a session;
• New immunisers could speak to the pharmacy owner they work for to enquire whether they could arrange a supervised session with an experienced immuniser, within the same organisation; or
• New immunisers could contact local pharmacist or pharmacy technician colleagues, who are experienced immunisers, and ask them whether they would be willing to supervise a session within their pharmacy.

Q. Do I need to have a DBS check to provide the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
Where you are providing COVID-19 vaccinations and a patient is aged under 18 years, or if COVID-19 or adult influenza vaccinations are to be undertaken in the patient’s own home (including in care homes), those involved in this vaccination activity must have an enhanced DBS check against the adult and children’s barred list.

Q. Must I use the national booking service (NBS) to offer vaccination appointments?
Pharmacy owners must offer COVID-19 vaccinations through the NBS to patients. NHS England strongly encourages pharmacy owners to also offer adult influenza vaccinations through the NBS to eligible patients.

Q. Is there a minimum number of appointments I must provide on NBS as part of the services?
Yes, the current specification requires that where pharmacy owners are providing COVID-19 vaccinations, they must provide at least 100 listed appointments in the first month after they commence providing the service and at least 50 listed appointments per month thereafter for the campaign period.

Q. Must we offer walk-in appointments for the NHS vaccination service(s) we are providing?
Yes, pharmacy owners must offer NHS vaccinations through advertised walk-in clinics via the NHS Pharmacy Services Finder.

Q. I want to develop my own promotional materials for the vaccination service(s); am I allowed to do this?
Yes. However, pharmacy owners must ensure they comply with the requirements of the Terms of Service relating to promotion of services funded by the NHS and if the NHS logo is used in materials related to the service, this must comply with the guidelines for use of the NHS identity by community pharmacies.

The Seasonal Vaccination Services page on our website provides links to resources from Community Pharmacy England, UK Health Security Agency and other organisations which pharmacy owners can use if they do not want to develop their own materials.

Q. Can a pharmacy owner provide a patient with any kind of free gift if they have a vaccination under the Advanced Service?
No. The Terms of Service state that a pharmacy must not offer any gift or reward to any person as an inducement to receive any Advanced Service.

Q. How are patients invited for a vaccination?
The NHS national call/recall service will send invitations and reminders to individuals whose NHS records suggest they may be eligible for vaccination based on clinical coding. This is complemented by local invitations from general practices. The national call/recall service will not contact anyone who already has a future booking on NBS, has a recorded vaccination, lives in a care home or detained estate, or who has chosen to opt out of national COVID-19 or flu vaccination messages.

Q. If a patient was previously eligible for a COVID-19 or flu vaccine but is currently no longer in a risk group, can they still receive a vaccine?
No. Some patients may have been eligible for a vaccine under the COVID-19 or Flu Vaccination Services during previous campaign periods whilst in an at-risk group but may no longer be in that group. Examples could include women who were pregnant during the last flu season but are no longer pregnant, or people who were immunocompromised during the last COVID-19 campaign but are no longer immunocompromised or patients who were taking regular inhaled steroids during last flu season but are no longer taking them.

Providing these patients are not in any other risk group as detailed in the service specification, they would not be eligible for a vaccination this year under the Seasonal Vaccination Services.

Q. A patient has requested vaccination but they seem generally unwell; can they receive their vaccine(s)?
Vaccination may be postponed in those who are acutely unwell until they have fully recovered. This is to avoid confusing the differential diagnosis of any acute illness by wrongly attributing any signs or symptoms to the adverse effects of the vaccine(s).

Q. If a patient is not a British citizen, can they get a vaccination?
Yes. As part of the NHS vaccination programme, patients can get a vaccination in England if they are in an eligible group. It is not essential for them to be registered with a general practice. NHS primary care, including most vaccines, is free for everyone, including overseas visitors. You can find out more at: How to access NHS services in England if you are visiting from abroad – NHS

Q. When should patients having chemotherapy have their COVID-19 and flu vaccines?
Patients receiving chemotherapy should receive their vaccine at the earliest opportunity. For individuals due to commence immunosuppressive treatments, inactivated vaccines should ideally be administered at least two weeks before commencement. In some cases, this will not be possible and therefore vaccination may be carried out at any time.

Q. I am unsure whether a patient is eligible to receive a vaccine under the Seasonal Vaccination Services because their condition is not specifically mentioned as being part of an eligible group in the service specification. What is the best way to proceed?
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will need to make a clinical decision as to whether an individual patient falls into an eligible group based on the information in the service specification.  If a pharmacist or pharmacy technician is unsure if a patient is eligible for an NHS COVID-19 or flu vaccination, the patient should be referred to their general practice.

Q. Should pharmacy teams check with the patient’s GP practice if the patient has already had a COVID-19 or flu vaccination?
In most cases the patient will be able to verify if they have received a COVID-19 and or flu vaccination at their GP practice; however, if the patient is unsure, relevant care records should be checked or the GP practice should be contacted to confirm whether they have already been vaccinated to prevent the risk of the patient being vaccinated twice. This is especially important for patients who fall into vulnerable groups such as those with dementia who may not remember if they have been vaccinated.

Q. Should pharmacy teams verify the eligibility of patients requesting COVID-19 and/or flu vaccinations under the service?
In many circumstances pharmacy teams will know the patients who are requesting vaccination under the services. They will, therefore, be able to determine whether a patient falls within an eligible group as a result of the knowledge of the patient and their patient medication record. There will, however, be circumstances where the patient is not known to the pharmacy team. In that case it will be necessary for the pharmacist or pharmacy technician to talk to the patient, review their national care record and to use their professional judgement to determine whether the patient falls within an eligible group.

Q. Are pharmacy team members an eligible group for COVID-19 or flu vaccinations within the Advanced Service?
No. Employers may wish to offer pharmacy staff flu vaccinations as part of their occupational health arrangements, but this cannot be undertaken as part of the Advanced Service. If a pharmacy team member is eligible for an NHS COVID and/or flu vaccination and falls into one of the eligible patient groups for the Advanced Service, they would be able to use the service at the pharmacy.

Q. What should I do if a patient requests a vaccination, but they are not eligible under the Advanced Service?
If a patient is not eligible for vaccination under the Advanced Service, but they are eligible for an NHS vaccination (for example, a child in a clinical risk group), they should be referred to their GP practice. If a patient is not eligible for vaccination at NHS expense by any healthcare provider, the patient could be offered a private vaccination service if the pharmacy has appropriate arrangements in place to provide such a service.

Q. Can a patient who lives in one of the other home countries, for example, Wales or Scotland, have an NHS COVID-19 and/or flu vaccine at a pharmacy in England?
Yes. There are no geographical restrictions placed on the provision of the service to eligible NHS patients.

Q. Is a patient with epilepsy eligible for an NHS COVID-19 and/or flu vaccination under the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
No. Epilepsy is not considered a high-risk group for COVID-19 or flu; therefore, patients with epilepsy are not entitled to these NHS vaccinations unless they fall into another eligible group.

Q. Do patients with HIV need to stop their antiretroviral treatment for two weeks after immunisation and not be immunised until 48 hours after stopping the antivirals?
No. The HIV Pharmacy Association of the UK has advised that there is no interaction between the influenza vaccine and antiretrovirals used to treat or prevent HIV infection and recommend that it is safe to give patients on antiretroviral therapy the influenza vaccine without compromising either the vaccine or the patient’s HIV treatment.

Those living with HIV are eligible for an NHS COIVD-19 vaccination.

Q. If a patient has a bleeding disorder or is taking oral anticoagulants, do I need to take any special precautions when giving them their vaccine?
Information on providing a vaccination to a patient who has a bleeding disorder or is taking oral anticoagulants is contained in the PGD or VGD.

Q. Can patients with neurological deterioration receive a vaccination?
The presence of a neurological condition is not a contraindication to immunisation, but if there is evidence of current neurological deterioration, deferral of vaccination may be considered to avoid incorrect attribution of any change in the underlying condition. The risk of deferring the vaccine should be balanced against the risk of contracting COVID-19 or flu and vaccination should be promptly given once the diagnosis and/or the expected course of the condition becomes clear.

This precaution does not apply to individuals with a chronic neurological condition who should be offered their vaccine.

Q. Can patients choose which brand of vaccine they can have?
No. Any concerns a patient has regarding a particular vaccine type should be discussed with them to understand their concerns.

Q. Do patients need the same type of vaccine as they have previously had?
No. The vaccines authorised for use in the NHS services are effective and should each provide a strong response. Patients should be offered the vaccine that is most suitable for them, as set out in the NHS guidance.

Q. Where can I check who is eligible for an NHS COVID-19 vaccination?
The Green Book provides a list of eligible patient cohorts for COVID-19 vaccination during the campaign period. This includes a defined list of immunosuppression. Pharmacists or pharmacy technicians may need to talk to the patient, review their national care record and use their professional judgement to determine whether the patient falls within an eligible group.

Q. Are people aged 74 years who turn 75 by 31st January 2027 eligible for an NHS COVID-19 vaccination as part of the 2026/27 autumn/winter campaign?
Yes.

Q. As those who have a weakened immune system are a cohort for COVID-19 vaccination, are their household contacts also eligible as they are for flu vaccinations?
No. Household contacts of people with a weakened immune system are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.

Q. Is there a minimum period between COVID-19 vaccinations?
Yes, it is recommended that you get a spring COVID-19 vaccination six months after your last dose. There must at least three months (91 days) since a patient’s last COVID-19 vaccination.

Q. Can patients get an NHS COVID-19 vaccine for travel or other purposes?
No. If a patient is not in an eligible group, it is not possible to provide them with an NHS COVID-19 vaccination. Pharmacy owners may be able to provide a COVID-19 vaccine privately to a patient if their pharmacy provides a private service.

Q. As the COVID-19 PGD and VGD covers children from 5 years and above, can I vaccinate children as part of the service?
Yes, but only when authorised by the commissioner.

Q. Can I vaccinate patients outside the campaign period if they are part of the all year-round pathway?
No. Only community pharmacies specifically requested and authorised by the commissioner to provide the year-round pathway are allowed to offer such vaccinations.

Q. At what stage of pregnancy should pregnant women be offered the flu vaccine?
All pregnant women should be offered an inactivated influenza vaccine whilst pregnant, regardless of their stage of pregnancy. Studies have demonstrated that pregnant women can safely receive influenza vaccine during pregnancy and that infants also receive some protection from maternal antibodies because of their mother having the vaccination whilst pregnant.

Q. Can the flu vaccine be given to women who are breastfeeding?
Yes. The flu vaccine can be given to breastfeeding women; however, ‘breastfeeding women’ is not an eligible group for the Flu Vaccination Service. Breastfeeding women would only be entitled to a free flu vaccination if they fall into an eligible group listed in the service specification.

Q. Can a homeless person have an NHS flu vaccination?
A homeless person can have an NHS flu vaccination if they fall into one of the eligible groups for the Flu Vaccination Service. Pharmacy owners should also note the following:

• No fixed abode (NFA) can be entered in the IT system;
• If a homeless person is registered with a GP practice, notification would need to be sent to the GP practice, providing as much identifying information as the pharmacy can provide to allow the GP practice to match the information to the relevant person (some areas have specific homeless patient services to allow GP registration and some encourage registration at any GP practice); and
• If a homeless person is not registered with a GP practice, the service can still be provided to the person. Pharmacy staff could encourage the person to register with a practice and explain how to do this.

Q. Can immunosuppressed patients have the flu vaccine?
Yes, the inactivated influenza vaccine can be safely given to immunosuppressed individuals though they may have a sub-optimal response to the vaccine. Individuals may be immunosuppressed because of a medical condition or because of medical therapy that they are taking. As these patients are at risk of increased morbidity and mortality if they develop influenza, they should be offered the vaccine. Immunosuppression may continue for several months following completion of treatment. If there is any uncertainty regarding an individual’s level of immunosuppression, further advice should be taken from their consultant.

Q. Can patients taking steroids have the inactivated flu vaccine?
Yes, patients taking steroids can be safely vaccinated with inactivated flu vaccine. As systemic steroids at a dose equivalent to prednisolone 20mg or more per day are considered to be immunosuppressive, patients taking steroids are at risk of serious illness if they develop flu and so should be vaccinated. Patients that are receiving high-dose steroids may be immunosuppressed for at least three months after cessation of treatment.

Q. If an individual has had confirmed influenza recently and they are in an at-risk group should they still have the vaccine?
Yes. Anyone eligible to receive the vaccine should still have it even if they have had confirmed influenza, either recently or in the past. Having the vaccine will help to protect against other circulating strains. The inactivated flu vaccine can be given at any time following recovery, providing there are no contraindications to vaccination.

Q. Last season I provided children aged 2 and 3 years old a flu vaccination under the Childhood Flu Advanced Service, can I do that this season?
The community pharmacy Seasonal Vaccination Services provide access to COVID-19 vaccinations and adult flu vaccinations for those who fall into an eligible group. The 2025/26 Advanced Childhood Flu Vaccination Service was a one-season trial and it is currently being evaluated by NHS England. Until any future commissioning of the service is confirmed, pharmacy owner should not provide any childhood flu vaccinations where they are not directly commissioned to do so.

Q. Can children (2-17 years) be vaccinated under the Seasonal Vaccination Services if they are allergic to Fluenz Tetra nasal vaccine?
No.

Q. Are all people with asthma (aged 18 years or over) eligible for an NHS flu vaccination under the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
No. People with asthma are entitled to an NHS flu vaccination if they have asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission as stated in the service specification. Therefore, patients who are only prescribed a short-acting β2 agonist to manage their asthma are not entitled to an NHS flu vaccination unless they fall into another eligible group.

Q. Are all workers working within registered care homes and domiciliary care organisations eligible to receive an NHS flu vaccination?
No. Only those workers directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients/clients are eligible. A worker that has no direct contact with a patient/client is not eligible. For example, a member of the catering staff that prepares food for patient/clients would not be considered eligible.

Q. If a person presenting is a social care worker but is also eligible to receive the flu vaccination at the community pharmacy because they are part of an ‘at-risk’ group, under which risk category should they be recorded?
The person presenting should be recorded under their ‘at-risk’ group for their eligibility for the Adult Flu Service.

Q. Are all frontline health and social care workers entitled NHS flu vaccinations?
No. Under the Seasonal Vaccination Advanced Services, an NHS fluvaccinationcan only be provided to frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme. This cohort, includes those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by people who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants.

All other frontline health care workers, including community pharmacy staff, other clinical and non-clinical staff and those working in a social care setting with an employer-led occupational health scheme, who have contact with patients, should be offered a flu vaccine as part of their employers’ policy for the prevention of the transmission of flu. This is part of the employer’s occupational health commitment to meet their responsibility to protect their staff and patients and ensure the overall safe running of services and it is not part of the NHS vaccination service.

Social care workers directly working with people clinically vulnerable to flu should also have the flu vaccine provided by their employer, where employer schemes are in place.

Q. Which care home and domiciliary care workers are eligible for an NHS flu vaccination?
Health and social care staff who are eligible for NHS flu vaccinations are those aged 18 years and over, employed by a registered residential care/nursing home, registered domiciliary care provider or a voluntary managed hospice provider who are directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients/clients who are at increased risk from exposure to influenza. Vulnerable means those patients/clients in a clinical risk group for flu or aged 65 years and over (including those becoming age 65 years by 31st March 2027), are eligible to be vaccinated by community pharmacies.

Q. Is there a definition of carers who are eligible for NHS flu vaccinations?
The Carer’s Trust defines a carer as anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. Unpaid carers may or may not be receiving Carer’s Allowance.

A paid carer is someone that is employed to care for a patient and support their individual needs. Paid carers can work in a variety of settings, including residential homes, nursing homes or at home with the patient.

Health and social care workers employed through Direct Payments (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants, to deliver domiciliary care to patients and service users are also eligible for a flu vaccination.

Q. Does a social care worker need to provide evidence that they work within a relevant organisation to receive an NHS flu vaccination?
No, that is not required, but if evidence can be provided, it may help speed up the process when they present in the pharmacy. We have provided a template that pharmacy teams can give to local care provider organisations, for them to add to their letterhead and provide to staff.

Q. How do I verify eligibility for vaccination for some of the flu vaccination cohorts?
Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals should usually be confirmed as living at the same address as the immuno-compromised individual. Eligible individuals are expected to share living accommodation with an immuno-compromised person on most days over the winter, and so continuing close contact in this case would be unavoidable.

Social care workers employed through direct payment (personal budgets) and/or personal health budgets, such as personal assistants, to deliver domiciliary care to patients and service users can present a letter agreed by the Government and provided and signed by their employer confirming their eligibility for vaccination.

Other eligible social care workers have been advised that there is no requirement to present ID to receive a vaccination. Social care employers have been advised to provide staff with a letter they can present stating they are a social care worker, which will help show eligibility to providers, but this is not a requirement.

However, at all times, the provider of NHS flu vaccinations should use their own judgement to assess if the patient is eligible if no formal proof is available.

Q. Are people aged 64 years who turn 65 by 31st March 2027 eligible for an NHS flu vaccination?
Yes.

Q. Can I administer COVID-19 and/or flu vaccinations at an individual patient’s home?
Yes. This is permitted where the patient requests it. However, the pharmacy owner must obtain consent from the regional NHS England vaccination team if they wish to carry out vaccinations at a location off the pharmacy premises. In the first instance, patients should be advised to contact their general practice first to arrange a home visit for vaccination if they usually get their care at home.

Q. Do I need to obtain consent from the regional NHS England vaccination team before vaccinating a patient in their own home?
Yes.

Q. A patient has requested a COVID-19 and/or a flu vaccination in their own home; do I need to let the patient’s GP practice know before I vaccinate the patient?
No. However, the pharmacy owner must first obtain consent from the regional NHS England vaccination team if they wish to carry out vaccinations at a location off the pharmacy premises.

Q. A care home has requested COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for their residents; Can I do this and do I need to let the patients’ GP practices know before I vaccinate the patients?
Pharmacy owners must only vaccinate patients in care homes where the regional NHS England vaccination team requests them to do so and consents to their off-site provision of the services. Pharmacy owners are not required to notify the patients’ GP practice(s) before they vaccinate these patients.

Q. Can community pharmacies provide flu vaccinations to social care workers or hospice workers at their place of work?
Yes. However, the pharmacy owner must first obtain consent from the regional NHS England vaccination team if they wish to carry out vaccinations at a location off the pharmacy premises

Q. Can we provide other services to patients in their homes at the same time as the Seasonal Vaccination Services?
This may be possible, but pharmacy owners must ensure they follow the requirements in the service specification for each service they intend to carry out.

Q. Is there an additional payment for vaccinations administered off-site?
No.

Q. Can I administer COVID-19 and/or flu vaccinations at premises other than the pharmacy?
Yes. However, the pharmacy owner must first obtain consent from the regional NHS England vaccination team if they wish to carry out vaccinations at a location off the pharmacy premises.

Q. Would people living in supported accommodation such as sheltered accommodation fall into the ‘people living in long-stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities’?
No. People living in supported accommodation such as sheltered accommodation would not fall under the eligible group ‘people living in long-stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities’.

Q. Can I administer COVID-19 and/or flu vaccinations at a person’s place of work?
Yes. Provided patients fall under one of the eligible groups and the pharmacy owner has obtained consent from the regional NHS England vaccination team to carry out vaccinations at a location off the pharmacy premises.

Q. Are health and social care staff working in sheltered housing accommodation, for example, warden-controlled flats, eligible to receive an NHS flu vaccination as part of their role?
No. Sheltered housing providers are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and are therefore, not required to be registered, so their staff do not fall within the definition set out in the service specification. However, if a registered domiciliary care provider has staff that attend sheltered housing accommodation to support patients, then these staff will be eligible for an NHS flu Vaccination Service.

Q. Are health and social care staff working in extra-care housing (also called assisted living) eligible to receive an NHS flu vaccination?
Yes. Unlike sheltered housing, extra care housing is regulated by the CQC. Therefore, if staff are directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients/clients who are at increased risk from exposure to influenza these staff would be eligible for an NHS flu vaccination.

Extra-care housing (also called assisted living) offers more support than sheltered housing but still allows clients to live independently. Clients live in a self-contained flat, with their own front door, but meals may be provided. Personal care and support services are generally available on-site 24 hours a day. Some extra care housing is available to buy or rent privately and some is available from the local council following a needs assessment. This type of housing is not available in all areas.

Q. Can I provide vaccinations off-site at a location outside my NHS England region?
No. Off-site vaccination clinics must be within the bounds of the NHS England region where the registered premises are located.

Q. Can I store my vaccine at my off-site location overnight?
No. Vaccines can only be stored overnight at a GPhC or CQC registered location.

Q. Can my off-site location be added to the national booking service (NBS) so it is visible to patients when booking?
Yes. Off-site locations can be added to the NBS and COVID‑19 vaccination walk-in finder. Pharmacy owners should contact their integrated care board to arrange this.

Q. Will my pharmacy need to be registered with the CQC to provide the service?
No. The CQC does not regulate community pharmacies in relation to the provision of pharmaceutical services (including administration of vaccines); that is the role of the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Q. What should I do if a patient has inadvertently been given a second dose of inactivated flu vaccine?
It is not harmful to have extra doses of the inactivated flu vaccine. Any adverse reaction to an extra dose is likely to be similar to those commonly seen after a scheduled dose of flu vaccine such as local redness/pain at the injection site, malaise etc. The patient should be offered reassurance and your patient safety incident reporting and review procedure should be followed, which should include the reporting requirements set out in the service specification.

Q. Do you need to expel the air bubble in a pre-filled syringe before administering the flu vaccine?
No, you should not get rid of the air bubble unless specifically stated in the vaccine’s SPC. To try to expel it risks accidently expelling some of the vaccine and therefore not giving the patient the full dose. The air bubble is also there for a reason – the air injected into the muscle forms an airlock preventing the medication seeping out along the needle tract into subcutaneous tissue and onto the skin. The small bolus of air injected following administration of the vaccine clears the needle and prevents a localised reaction to the vaccination.

Q. What should I do if there is a power failure to the fridge containing the vaccines?
You should refer to the Vaccine incident guidance and the vaccine product’s Summary of Product Characteristics. Further advice could be obtained from your local screening and immunisation team.

Q. Can a pharmacy buy vaccines direct from the manufacturer?
For NHS COVID-19 vaccines, no. These must be ordered from NHS central stock only.

Vaccines used to provide NHS flu vaccinations can be purchased from the manufacturer or a wholesaler.

Q. Do patients who are not exempt from prescription charges have to pay a prescription charge for their vaccination that is administered as part of the service?
No.

Q. Is it mandatory for a pharmacy to have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the service?
Yes.

Q. Do we need to have a needle stick injury procedure?
Yes.

Q. What would normally be contained in an anaphylaxis pack?
The Green Book states that an anaphylaxis pack normally contains two ampoules of adrenaline (epinephrine) 1:1000, four 23G needles and four graduated 1ml syringes, and Laerdal or equivalent masks suitable for children and adults. The mask for children would only be required if the pharmacy is providing a vaccination service to children; the Advanced Service does not include the vaccination of children.

Q. Can I use an adrenaline auto-injector to treat anaphylaxis?
The Green Book states that autoinjectors for self-administration of adrenaline should not be used as a substitute for a proper anaphylaxis pack (see above). However, if an adrenaline auto-injector is the only available adrenaline preparation when treating anaphylaxis, health care providers should use it.

Q. If a pharmacist or pharmacy technician administers adrenaline in an emergency to treat anaphylaxis, is a PGD required to authorise the administration?
No. Regulation 238 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 allows adrenaline to be administered by anyone for the purpose of saving life in an emergency.

Q. How long should a patient be observed for following administration of a COVID-19 or flu vaccination to ensure they do not have an anaphylaxis reaction?
The Green Book states in the Anaphylaxis section in Chapter 8, Vaccine safety and the management of adverse events following immunisation (Page 5) ‘Onset of anaphylaxis is rapid, typically within minutes, and its clinical course is unpredictable with variable severity and clinical features.

Chapter 4 of the green book, Immunisation procedures (page 32) states ‘Recipients of any vaccine should be observed for immediate adverse drug reactions. There is no evidence to support the practice of keeping patients under longer observation’.

Q. What should I do if a patient requests or is eligible for another vaccination, for example, a pneumococcal vaccine?
Unless the pharmacy is commissioned at a local level to provide additional vaccinations, the patient should be referred to their general practice.

Q. What are the storage requirements for vaccines?
Vaccines should be stored in line with the requirements set out by their manufacturer in the Summary of Product Characteristics.

The Green Book, chapter 3, Storage, distribution and disposal of vaccines provides additional guidance for all providers, including community pharmacies, on the storage requirements for vaccines.

Q. What records should I make if a patient has an adverse reaction to a vaccine?
A record of any adverse reaction from a flu vaccine and any treatment administered or advised should be made by the pharmacy. Where the adverse reaction is deemed to be clinically significant by the pharmacist or pharmacy technician, this information may also be shared with the patient’s GP practice. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are reminded to report all serious suspected ADRs, even if the effect is well recognised, and all suspected ADRs linked to new medicines and vaccines to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via the Yellow Card scheme. New medicines and vaccines that are under additional monitoring are indicated by an inverted black triangle symbol (▼) displayed in their package, leaflet and summary of product characteristics.

Pharmacy professionals can report suspected side effects to the MHRA via:

• The Yellow Card website; or
• The free Yellow Card app, downloadable from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Q. Must patient consent be recorded in writing?
No. Patient consent should be obtained verbally and should be recorded in the pharmacy’s clinical record for the service. A signed consent record is not required.

Some patients may be unable to provide verbal consent, but this is not synonymous with lacking capacity. The individual just needs to be able to communicate their decision clearly and this decision should then be captured in the pharmacy’s clinical record for the service.

Q. Can I vaccinate a person who seems unable to understand consent?
Where there is a concern that a patient may not have the capacity to provide informed consent, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should ensure that an appropriate mental capacity assessment is conducted. Guidance to support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians meet their responsibility under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and provide appropriate care for their patient is available here.

Q. Does the patient’s general practice always need to be informed of the vaccination administered to their patient?
Yes.

Q. A local general practice is communicating incorrect information to their patients about the community pharmacy Flu Vaccination Service. What should I do?
Talk to the practice manager at the general practice to raise your concerns and try to get them to correct any misleading information that is being provided to patients. You should also let your LPC know about the matter and agree with them whether they or you will notify the NHS contract management team.

Q. Do I still need to make a claim on MYS at the end of the month for payment of the vaccinations I have provided?
Yes. Pharmacy owners must claim for vaccination programmes through the NHSBSA’s MYS portal. Claims for payment must be made within one month of and no later than three months from the claim period for the chargeable activity provided.

Q. Is the seasonal Vaccination Service included in the advanced payments scheme?
Yes.