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A change to the law that allowed greater flexibility of vaccine delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic will become permanent and apply to any vaccine against an infectious disease caused by a virus or bacteria, the government has said.
In its response to a consultation on proposals to amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, published on 20 January 2026, the government said these changes would improve access to vaccines and help reduce health inequalities via greater flexibility for community pharmacies to deliver vaccination services outside registered premises.
It will also allow NHS service providers to redistribute vaccine stock without the need for a wholesale dealer’s licence, when clinically essential and the vaccine is kept in its original packaging.
Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, commented: “Making some of the key COVID-19-era flexibilities permanent and applying them to all vaccines will help improve access, strengthen supply chains and support prevention across the UK.
“We also welcome the expanded role for community pharmacies, including outreach that can help reduce health inequalities. As these changes are implemented, strong governance, training and workforce support will be essential. We look forward to working with governments and the NHS to ensure these changes benefit patients and strengthen public health.”
Under the changes, pharmacists — but not pharmacy technicians — will be able to prepare or assemble vaccines away from the registered retail pharmacy or hospital premises, which would enable them to deliver vaccination outreach services.
“We expect extending this provision to other vaccination programmes to increase vaccine access for patients who are unable to access traditional vaccination services,” the government said.
Commenting on the changes, Nick Thayer, head of policy at the Company Chemists’ Association, said: “Community pharmacy is capable of routinely administering many more NHS vaccines.
“In time, we would like to see all vaccines commissioned from community pharmacy. This will help drive uptake, especially amongst underserved communities.”
The government also plans to introduce a new legal mechanism of vaccine group directions (VGDs), which will replace national protocols in allowing an expanded workforce to deliver vaccinations.
The UK Health Security Agency will also produce VGDs in England and ensure they clearly define who can undertake different aspects of the vaccination activity, with additional guidance from the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service.
In Scotland, governance will be undertaken by the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme, while in Wales, NHS professionals will be responsible for governance, as patient group directions are currently done.
For Northern Ireland, development of regional VGDs will continue to be led by the Department of Health’s Strategic Planning and Performance Group and the Public Health Agency.
Vaccination providers must also be competent and trained in delivering the vaccine, as well as managing any aftereffects, the government stressed.
Finally, the government plans to extend schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to enable more staff — not just nurses — to deliver private occupational health vaccinations.
The government confirmed that it will be laying legislation under the affirmative procedure to make these amendments “in due course”, after which they must be actively approved by both Houses of Parliament before coming into effect.
