Yesterday (30 August) the Government and the UKHSA has recommended NHS England to bring forward the start of the Flu and COVID autumn vaccine programme to commence on 11th September 2023. Our comments featured in the MailOnline article:
Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of the CCA said:
“Community pharmacies stand ready to protect people across England from COVID and flu, through the vaccination programme. As with every other year, patients will be able to access their local pharmacy for vaccinations, at a time and place convenient for them.
Ensuring high uptake is crucial to protecting those most vulnerable in our population. We urge everyone who is eligible, to speak to their local pharmacy team about getting vaccinated.
This decision follows a turbulent period for the vaccination programme. Longstanding plans have been tested and uncertainty has plagued the programme. There is now a need to focus on delivering a successful programme this year. However, given the growing risk to public health, we encourage the government to review again the resource it puts into the vaccination programmes.
It is vital that pharmacies and the public are confident in the plans put in place. There is a need to start planning now for the vaccination programme next year, to ensure that maximum uptake and protection can be achieved.”