Pharmacy’s successful track record in delivering vaccination programmes is also highlighted by the report. During the pandemic, for instance, pharmacies delivered more than 22 million Covid vaccines, rising to more than 40 million by the end of 2023.

Despite this, pharmacies are not commissioned to provide the majority of adult vaccines, the report points out. Yet evidence suggests that where pharmacies have been involved in delivering ‘catch-up’ vaccines, such as MMR, this has had a positive effect on uptake rates. 

Remuneration for future vaccinations delivered by community pharmacy should better reflect NHS England’s own belief in the “extraordinary power” of immunisation, says the report – as well as the cost savings vaccines can generate in other parts of the health system. 

There is also inadequate real-time data sharing regarding individuals’ vaccine status between general practice and community pharmacy, meaning the potential to carry out “opportunistic vaccinations” is constrained. 

This is primarily a bureaucratic, not technical, challenge, according to the report, as data is readily shared between providers regarding antibiotic and contraceptive medications. Putting in place similar approvals for vaccination status would support a more proactive approach to vaccination in primary care.