The prime minister Boris Johnson visited a Boots vaccination site in Uxbridge yesterday (10 January) to witness the programme first-hand.  

While at the pharmacy, Boris Johnson also met some of the Boots pharmacists who are administering Covid-19 booster jabs to patients. 

As it stands, over 80 Boots’ pharmacies are part of the vaccination programme, as more pharmacies across England and Wales have been recruited to deliver the booster.  

In a statement published on their website, Boots said that this week marks one year since the multiple first began providing Covid vaccines. 

Nick Sunderland, Boots’ vaccination programme director said that the multiple was ‘so proud’ of its pharmacists who have worked ‘incredibly hard to support the national effort to accelerate the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme’.  

‘It is thanks to them that we have been able to increase our appointment capacity and it is great to have the Prime Minister recognise the important role that community pharmacy has played in the success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to date,’ he said. 

Karthick Chakrapani, Boots Uxbridge store manager said that delivering the Covid-19 vaccination programme has been ‘a real honour’.  

‘Our patients tell us that they value the opportunity to get their booster at their local pharmacy – it is convenient and an environment they are already familiar with’.  

She added: ‘As healthcare professionals, we know that the booster is vitally important in reducing the chances of people getting seriously unwell as a result of Covid-19 and we encourage anyone who has not yet had their booster to book an appointment as soon as possible’. 

This week, Boots UK’s parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) recorded increased pharmacy and retail sales in its first quarter results for the 2022 fiscal year.   

Last year, WBA was rumoured to be considering putting its Boots UK pharmacies up for sale amid speculation around a ‘new strategic direction’ for the company.   

It comes as several major players in the pharmacy sector have been consolidating their business positions.