Covid Vaccination Service

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has confirmed that this issue was raised with them this week and has since been escalated to NHS England. CPE has asked all LPCs to share data and insights to help establish the root cause of the problem.

According to CPE, there appear to be two possible scenarios:

1. An error within NBS which is erroneously allowing non-eligible patients to book appointments; or
2. Patients are incorrectly self-declaring eligibility (e.g., stating they are immunocompromised or living in a care home)

Action for pharmacy teams 
Pharmacies are asked to collect and share the following data from affected appointments:

• ODS code
• Number of patients presenting for a COVID-19 vaccination via NBS bookings on the day
• Number of these patients who were not eligible

In addition, pharmacy teams are encouraged to capture insights from conversations with patients, including:

• Whether patients received NHS invitation emails or SMS messages suggesting eligibility
• Whether GP messages incorrectly indicated eligibility
• Patient recollections of the eligibility criteria given by NBS (e.g., declaring as immunocompromised or living in a care home in error)

All data and insights should be sent to services.team@cpe.org.uk

Pharmacies are also advised to raise these issues through the Regional Vaccination Operations Centre (RVOC) local escalation process, as bottom-up reports will strengthen national influencing on this matter.
Further information
Pharmacy teams can direct patients to the official NHS eligibility guidance for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, available here: NHS: Keep Warm, Keep Well.

A copy of the COVID19 Vaccine Eligibility Checklist can be found here.