The number of flu vaccinations administered by community pharmacies has risen by over 221,000 since last year.
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The rise brings the total flu vaccinations by community teams to at least 817,00 for the winter of 2016 through to spring 2017, according to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC).
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Public Health England’s flu plan for 2016-17 included strategic objectives to increase immunisation uptake rates and to improve patient access.
'This is a fantastic result for community pharmacy teams' said Alastair Buxton, PSNC Director of NHS Services, adding 'It shows that patients value the convenience of being able to have a flu vaccination at a community pharmacy.'
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The 2016-17 vaccine was tailored to protect against the Influenza A H3N2 strain, which caused the 2009 swine flu pandemic, as well as the ‘Hong Kong’ and ‘Brisbane’ strains.
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