Flu Vaccination Service 2024/25 Season

As one flu season ends (31^st March), information to support planning the next.

NHS England has published the service specification for the 2024/25 Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Advanced Service.

The early publication aims to support the planning and provision of the service by pharmacy owners and will assist any service providers should an autumn COVID-19 vaccination service be considered, as any pharmacy owners seeking to provide COVID-19 vaccinations must also provide the Flu Vaccination Service.

Changes to the service requirements

Only a small number of amendments have been made to the service specification ahead of the next season.

The key changes are that the commencement date for the service will be announced by NHS England along with the priority order for the administration of vaccinations.

The annual flu letter confirmed, from 1st September 2024, pharmacies will only be able to vaccinate pregnant women. From October 2024, vaccination of the other adult cohorts will commence, with the exact starting date to be confirmed by NHS England in due course.

Pharmacy owners should consider these changes before vaccine orders for the 2024/25 season are finalised and order schedules are confirmed.

PGD and National Protocol

As is the case in the 2023/24 service, the patient group direction (PGD) will be able to be used by an appropriately trained practitioner to provide the Advanced service.

A National Protocol will also be available, which can be used by pharmacy owners as an alternative to the PGD, where they are able to continue to make use of the skill mix flexibilities allowed by the protocol. Clinical supervision of the service will still need to be provided by a pharmacist.

The PGD and national protocol will be published closer to the start date for the service.