Pharmacists to be paid the same as GPs for flu vaccinations

Pharmacists will be paid the same as GPs for flu vaccinations a new joint service specification for Covid and adult flu vaccinations from NHS England has confirmed.

In a system letter, NHS England announced that the flu vaccine item of service fee in 2026/27 will increase from £9.58 to £10.06 – bringing the fee in line with the GP arrangements.

This is a long called-for change, given that the £9.58 fee has not changed for the past seven seasons despite rising inflation, wage costs and employers’ National Insurance contributions.

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The Covid vaccine fee will also increase to £8.70 while the flu vaccination campaign is underway (between 1 September 2026 and 31 January 2027) and £10.06 outside the campaign. There will also no longer be an additional £10 payment for the administration of Covid jabs to housebound people.

From April 2026, pharmacy owners will be commissioned under an Advanced service for Covid vaccinations. As is the case now, where a pharmacy owner wants to provide the Covid vaccination service, they must also deliver the adult flu vaccination service.

The current Covid vaccination provisions around surge, pausing of services and designation of sites have been removed to align with the flu service requirements.

Pharmacy owners must seek agreement from their commissioner if they want to provide Covid and flu vaccinations away from the pharmacy premises. And they may be asked to vaccinate:

• Those who are housebound;
• Those who are in a care home;
• Those who are under 18 years old for Covid only, where they also have an enhanced DBS check against the adult and children’s barred list;
• Those who have developed severe immunosuppression when there is no active Covid campaign, but who would benefit from having the vaccine.

This follows proposed new regulations that would enable pharmacists to provide ‘wider outreach vaccination services’ away from the pharmacy premises.

Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE), said: ‘CPE is pleased that community pharmacies will now receive the same vaccination fees as GP practices after many years of calling for parity.

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‘The Committee has also secured concessions, such as keeping the National Booking System optional for flu vaccinations and allowing the use of local appointment systems. These changes should help planning for future vaccination seasons and provide a long-overdue fee increase for seasonal vaccinations starting in April 2026.’

CEO and executive chair of the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA), Dr Leyla Hannbeck, said: 'I am delighted that the government has listened to the concerns of community pharmacists across the country. This year’s flu epidemic has underlined just how vital it is to vaccinate as many people as possible, and today’s announcement will significantly support pharmacies to deliver more flu vaccinations by ending pay disparity between pharmacists and GP's.'

She added that this must be the first step towards creating an 'NHS of equals' and that the IPA looked forward to working with the government to secure a more sustainable settlement for community pharmacies.

Pharmacy owners who want to provide both Covid and flu vaccination services must now complete a service registration.

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They must also register for the service between 5 January 2026 and 2 February 2026 to ensure they receive supply of Covid vaccines in time for the start of the spring campaign.

NHS England recently reassured pharmacy owners that flu vaccine stocks remain available to order as flu hospitalisations surge.