Pharmacies deliver highest rate of flu vaccines ‘outside pandemic’ in 2024/25

More than four million flu vaccines were administered across community pharmacies in England during the 2024/25 winter campaign – the ‘highest rate’ outside of the pandemic, according to Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) analysis.

Figures from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) also show there was nearly a 10% growth in the number of flu vaccines administered compared to 2023/24, with 9,291 pharmacies participating.

Overall, the average participating pharmacy administered over 400 vaccines and there were 938 pharmacies that administered more than 1,000 vaccines in the 2024/25 winter season.

More vaccines were also administered in the most deprived communities, in line with previous years, with 11-12% of flu vaccines administered deprived areas, and 9-10% in the least deprived, according to analysis by the CCA.

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Drawing on the NHSBSA figures, the CCA suggests that the 2024/25 winter season saw the highest number of flu vaccines administered outside of the pandemic.

Over the pandemic in 2021/2022, 4,854,959 flu vaccines were administered and in the following year of the pandemic in 2022/2023, 5,007,944 were administered.

The CCA said the figures showed a ‘clear growth trend’ since national commissioning began in 2015 – with less than one million administered in 2016/17.

CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said that ‘with growing demand on NHS services and variability in uptake there is a need to move faster and further’.

‘Commissioning all adult vaccines from community pharmacy is the logical next step,’ he suggested.

He added: ‘Vaccines are one of the most effective tools in our armoury to prevent ill-health.

‘Pharmacies have proven time and time again that they can boost both the confidence in and uptake of vaccinations, especially amongst underserved communities.

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‘The success of last winter’s flu vaccine programme shows that community pharmacy is a strong partner to the NHS.

‘The recent regional commissioning of pharmacies to deliver RSV and Pertussis vaccines shows that health systems are beginning to take advantage of the opportunity.’

Under new plans recently announced by NHS England, up to 200 additional pharmacies will be able to offer the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation programme

during 2025/26. This update came as part of a new ‘public health functions agreement’ for 2025 to 2026 between the government and NHS England.

CCA said that commissioning pharmacies to take on a greater role in vaccination delivery would ensure better reach to underserved communities, increase uptake and free up GP capacity and hospital beds at a critical time for the NHS.

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Community Pharmacy England (CPE) recently recommended expanding community pharmacy services to include the provision of further respiratory care such as annual asthma reviews and pneumococcal vaccinations to help prevent a future winter respiratory health crisis.