The commissioner wants 100% of pharmacies to provide the service to maximise the number of patients receiving their vaccination. Last year, we had 76 pharmacies which provided the vaccination service which is 49% of pharmacies in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The LPC's will be contacting those pharmacies which didn’t provide the service to understand why and encourage sign-up unless there is a genuine reason provision is not possible.
Provision of the service in participating pharmacies ranged from 391 in the top provider to 4 in the bottom provider. The LPC will be arranging a series of meetings to discuss the flu service and some top tips will be shared from the best performing pharmacies to support those which struggled with engagement. Details of these events will be circulated in due course.
If purchasing is within your remit, then now is the time to be looking to place a vaccine order to secure the best possible price. Remember, for the NHS service, you can use whichever vaccine you want, as the PGD is for generic flu vaccine.
As more details come out we will update our website and send out news on the Email, Facebook and Twitter. Make sure your sign up to our newsletter or follow us on Twitter / Facebook . LPC commissioned training will also be advertised as soon as a provider is secured.