Pharmacies could tackle a ‘wave of vaccine hesitancy’ by delivering more jabs

Pharmacies being able to offer more vaccination services could help tackle a wave of post-pandemic vaccine hesitancy, sector leaders have said.

The latest report of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry found that the rapid spread of false and misleading information online had fuelled vaccine hesitancy globally, and a lack of confidence in authority was also a ‘significant factor’ in the UK.

Responding to the report the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said that commissioning pharmacies to deliver more vaccines could improve uptake, particularly in more deprived areas and among some ethnic minority communities.

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Its chief executive Henry Gregg added: ‘This report shows that pharmacies saved hundreds of thousands of lives by delivering 40 million vaccinations at the height of the Covid pandemic.

‘But this report suggests that many more people – particularly in deprived areas - could have been helped if the government had turned to the pharmacy network earlier.

‘The government could help tackle a wave of vaccine hesitancy that has surged after the pandemic by allowing pharmacies to roll out more vaccination services to patients, particularly in areas where uptake is lower.’

The inquiry report also said that community pharmacies were ‘underutilised’ in the early stages of Covid vaccine rollout and should be used earlier in future outbreaks.

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But Mr Gregg warned that about 1,000 community pharmacies had been forced to close for good because of underfunding since the pandemic.

‘The government is playing with people’s lives if it does not ensure there is a strong pharmacy network to improve people’s health today and is there ready for the inevitable health crises of the future,’ he added.

The inquiry report also praised the ‘extraordinary efforts’ of people across the UK who delivered the vaccine rollout and described it as a ‘great achievement’, especially given that healthcare workers were at the highest risk of infection during the pandemic.

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Tase Oputu, president of the newly launched Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm), said: ‘The rapid development, approval and rollout of vaccines played a vital role in reducing the impact of Covid and in helping to protect pharmacy teams and other health professionals on the frontline.

‘However, the report rightly highlights ongoing concerns around vaccine hesitancy and its impact on public health, particularly in more deprived areas and among some ethnic minority communities. It is crucial that these disparities are addressed to build trust and improve confidence in all vaccinations.’