Pharmacies urged to sign up for childhood flu jab pilot before deadline

Community pharmacies have been reminded to register by the end of this month if they wish to take part in the NHS pilot scheme offering flu vaccinations to young children.

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has advised that pharmacy owners must sign up via the MYS portal by 11.59pm on 31 August 2025 in order to receive centrally supplied vaccine stock in time for the service’s launch on 1 October 2025.

Pharmacies registering later will still be able to join, but they will not receive vaccine supplies until after the scheme has begun.

The Childhood Flu Vaccination Service, commissioned by NHS England (NHSE) as an Advanced service, will launch on a trial basis for one season.

Under the scheme, community pharmacies will administer flu vaccinations to children aged two to three years – a group currently vaccinated at GP practices. Older children will continue to be offered the vaccine at school.

Most eligible children will be given the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray suspension, which will be distributed to participating pharmacies from centrally procured stock.

The service was agreed following negotiations between CPE and NHSE. Alastair Buxton, director of NHS services at CPE, recently commented that the launch represents a 'show of faith' in community pharmacies.

Pharmacy owners opting to participate in the scheme will receive £9.58 per vaccination administered. A service specification has been published by NHSE.