What's Happening?
NHS England has announced that starting April 1, 2026, the COVID-19 vaccination service will be integrated with the flu vaccination services, eliminating the need for separate procurement by integrated care boards. This change is part of the service specification
for community pharmacy COVID-19 and flu services for the 2026/2027 period. The service fees for COVID-19 vaccinations will increase from £7.54 to £8.70 during the flu vaccination campaign season, and to £10.06 outside of it. Similarly, the adult flu vaccination service fee will rise to £10.06, aligning with general practitioner arrangements. Community pharmacies will have the option to offer both COVID-19 and flu vaccinations or just the flu service. Registration for providing these services will be required between January 5 and February 2, 2026, for the spring campaign starting April 13, 2026. The national booking service remains optional for flu vaccinations, allowing local appointment systems to be used.
Why It's Important?
This development is significant as it addresses long-standing calls for fee parity between community pharmacies and general practitioners, potentially increasing the capacity for vaccinations. By aligning the COVID-19 vaccination service with the flu service, NHS England aims to streamline operations and reduce administrative burdens on integrated care boards. The fee increase is expected to incentivize pharmacies to participate more actively in vaccination campaigns, which is crucial given the ongoing public health challenges posed by seasonal flu and COVID-19. The move could lead to higher vaccination rates, thereby enhancing public health outcomes. Additionally, the flexibility in using local appointment systems for flu vaccinations could improve accessibility and convenience for patients.
What's Next?
Pharmacy owners interested in providing the COVID-19 and flu vaccination services must register within the specified period to participate in the upcoming spring campaign. The integration of services and fee adjustments may prompt pharmacies to expand their vaccination offerings. Stakeholders, including pharmacy associations, are likely to monitor the implementation closely to ensure that the changes lead to the intended improvements in service delivery and public health impact. The government and NHS England will need to assess the effectiveness of these changes in increasing vaccination uptake and addressing public health needs.
