Anti-vaccine graffiti and posters were found on a pharmacy in west Belfast last week (12 October).

Coopers Pharmacy in Andersonstown was vandalised with black graffiti which said ‘just say no’ and several posters displaying anti-vaccine messages.  

Arder Carson, a Sinn Féin local councillor, has spoken out against the crime, calling it ‘completely unacceptable’. 

He said: ‘There can be absolutely no place in our society for the intimidation of health workers or members of the public when accessing their local pharmacy. 

‘Attempts to intimidate staff and members of the public with graffiti and posters at a community pharmacy in the Lenadoon area are completely unacceptable. 

He added: ‘Community pharmacies have been a lifeline throughout the pandemic for our communities and those that use pharmacies and work in them should not have to put up with this harassment and intimidation. 

‘Sinn Féin will continue to fully support our community pharmacies in their efforts to protect our community and take us through this pandemic.’ 

The Police Service of Northern Ireland told The Pharmacist an investigation into the vandalism is ongoing. 

Meanwhile, Coopers Pharmacy declined to comment.  

Picture of one of the posters found on the pharmacy: Photo provided by Arder Carson

At time of writing, community pharmacies in Northern Ireland had administered over 143,000 doses of the Covid jab.  

Last week (13 October), the Department of Health announced that the Covid vaccine booster programme in Northern Ireland will be delivered mostly through community pharmacies and GP surgeries. 

In July, The Pharmacist reported that a family-run village pharmacy serving as a vaccination centre for the local population was vandalised with anti-vaccine graffiti.

The Thomas Bell Pharmacy, based in Ambleside, was covered in yellow anti-vax messaging which said ‘500 deaths’ and the word ‘no’ alongside an arrow that pointed to the sign for vaccines.