Infectious diseases

All pharmacists now eligible for free flu vaccination in England after U-turn

Additional funding has been set aside to allow for all "eligible primary care contractors" to be vaccinated against flu — including community pharmacy teams and locums — following pleas from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.…

It is ‘shocking’ that free flu vaccinations are not being offered to all pharmacists in England and Wales, says RPS

Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the Society is "calling on the NHS to offer free flu vaccinations to pharmacists and pharmacy teams in both England and Wales, as is the case in Scotland”.…

Boots flu vaccination appointment bookings increase almost 70% year-on-year

Bookings for flu vaccinations at Boots stores increased by 67% between 1 July 2021 and 6 September 2021, when compared with the same time period in 2020.…

Pharmacists working in hospitals and general practice may face mandatory COVID-19 vaccination

The government has opened a consultation on making COVID-19 and flu vaccinations compulsory for frontline staff in general practice and hospitals, unless they are medically exempt.…

Pharmacy technicians can administer flu vaccine under national protocol for England

Exclusive: Public Health England has confirmed that, under the national protocol for administration of inactivated influenza vaccine, pharmacy technicians will be able to prepare and administer the vaccine.…

COVID-19 vaccination could cause ‘red’ results in clozapine monitoring, pharmacists warn

Exclusive: Mental health pharmacists say that clozapine treatment has been discontinued in some patients because of a reduction in white blood cells following infection with COVID-19, but interrupting treatment is not necessarily the right course of action.…

RPS and NHS England work together to help healthcare staff overseas tackle COVID-19

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has teamed up with international bodies to share resources and expertise with pharmacy staff who are facing the challenges of COVID-19.…

RPS urges government not to end state-backed indemnity for pharmacists delivering COVID-19 vaccinations

In a letter to the vaccines minister, the RPS has asked for plans to end state-provided indemnity insurance to be reconsidered.…

Pharmacies need ‘robust plans’ to vaccinate deprived groups against flu, says government

Flu vaccination providers have been asked to develop plans to ensure "equitable uptake" of the vaccine across the population.…

‘Vital’ that masks continue to be worn in pharmacies after restrictions are lifted, warns RPS

Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's English Pharmacy Board, says face masks worn in pharmacies protect both pharmacists and the public.…