Community Pharmacy FAQs

Pharmacy contractors will be commissioned under an advanced service for COVID-19 vaccinations from April 2026. As is the case now, where a pharmacy contractor wants to provide the COVID-19 vaccination service, they will also be required to deliver the flu vaccination service.

Amongst the key changes from 01 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 outlined in the National letter to Community Pharmacy was the increasing the adult flu item of service fee from £9.58 to £10.06 in line with the GP arrangements.

Like general pracitce there will no longer be an additional £10 payment for the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations to housebound people. Pharmacy contractors will be able to claim £8.70 per vaccine administered between 1 September 2026 and 31 January 2027 while the flu vaccination campaign is underway; and £10.06 outside the flu vaccination campaign.

During the 2025 to 2026 season there was a pilot for community pharmacy in England to provide flu vaccinations to children aged 2 to 3 years old.

We understand that guidance regarding the provision of vaccinations for 2 to 3 year olds in community pharmacies will be issued following the evaluation of the 2025 to 2026 season.

Childhood services specifications are pending.

GP Practices and Community Pharmacy colleagues are equally at liberty to advertise and promote their immunisation services and we would encourage you to pro-actively do so, but both the LMCs and Community Pharmacy Surrey and Sussex would urge colleagues not to express this in ways that undermine the other’s professionalism in the eyes of each other and their patients, this includes activity that could be perceived as actively enticing patients to attend one practice over another provider.

The Community Pharmacy England guidance states that Pharmacists are required to include an anaphylaxis pack as part of their preparation to provide the flu service in the pharmacy or offsite. They refer to the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training – GOV.UK

In line with the respective service specifications (ES), we encourage information about patient vaccination is passed promptly and accurately to the patient’s NHS practice, using electronic means.

Since 2020, the Community Pharmacy Seasonal Influenza Advanced Service Specification enabled community pharmacies to vaccinate in the pharmacy premises, but also in other suitable locations, such as in the Patient’s home, a long-stay care home, a long-stay residential facility or community venues (e.g. community centres).

The pharmacy contractor must obtain consent from the commissioner if they wish to carry out vaccinations off of the pharmacy premises.