Infectious diseases

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.…

COVID-19 booster campaign: everything we know so far

An outline of the plans for the UK COVID-19 booster vaccination programme.…

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 pneumonia and COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management

Following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the UK, pharmacists should be able to identify serious respiratory complications of COVID-19 infection and facilitate appropriate management.…

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.…

Meet the mAbs: the new treatments for vulnerable patients with COVID-19 (audio)

We take a closer look at monoclonal antibodies following news that pharmacists are likely to be involved in a new NHS service to deliver these treatments to patients with COVID-19 in the community.…

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.…