Supermarket Asda is to offer Covid booster jabs in 72 in-store pharmacies across England, with a flu vaccine available in the same visit.  

The retailer expects it will deliver around 7,500 Covid jabs a week from early October and through the winter months.  

It is also offering its annual flu jab service in-store at the same time, with jabs costing £8 for those not eligible for a free NHS vaccination.  

Since January, the retailer had operated three Covid vaccination centres in stores in Birmingham, Watford and London. These will continue to offer first and second Covid vaccines, as well as boosters, Asda confirmed.  

People in priority groups will be able to select Asda as the place to receive their booster when booking their jab.  

Faisal Tuddy, Asda superintendent pharmacist at Asda, said: ‘We are proud to have supported the NHS vaccination rollout throughout the year and will continue to do all we can to help vulnerable individuals top up their protection ahead of the winter months.  

‘Expanding the booster service to more than 70 Asda stores across the UK means that many more people will be able to receive their jabs in a convenient location at the heart of their community.’  

Last month, LloydsPharmacy announced that 16 of its sites would offer Covid booster vaccines.  

Multiple Boots UK also confirmed it would be involved in the programme but did not disclose how many stores would offer the jabs.  

In August, retailer Tesco announced it wanted to make getting a flu vaccination ‘as easy as doing the weekly shop’, offering a £9 flu jab to those not eligible on the NHS.  

It comes as community pharmacy team members are now eligible to receive a free flu vaccine during the 2020/21 flu season for the first time.  

Previously it was up to contractors to offer and cover the costs of flu vaccines for their staff.