Pharmacy owners are being asked to complete a survey for their views on whether NHS England (NHSE) should centralise adult flu vaccine procurement and supply, like every other NHS vaccine programme. 

The “exploratory work looking into the potential benefits and risks of centralised adult flu vaccine procurement and supply” is being undertaken to understand what changing the current supply chain model will achieve, according to a Community Pharmacy England (CPE) press release from last week (November 20).

CPE also said it would help NHSE understand how changes to the current model may increase or decrease efficiencies, enable the NHS to respond to in-season programme changes, direct supply into areas of low uptake and target specific areas and populations, and create more equity in how vaccines are distributed around the country.

Read more: Which pharmacy is offering the cheapest flu jabs for autumn 2024?

The NHSE survey will close on December 17, and pharmacy owners are being asked to voluntarily complete the survey. NHSE is also seeking the views of general practices, manufacturers of flu vaccines, and wholesalers.

CPE director of NHS Services Alastair Buxton said central procurement of adult flu vaccines “have pros and cons for pharmacy owners which are dependent on the design of any distribution system for the vaccine”.

“The efficiency of any distribution system from a pharmacy owner perspective and the equity of distribution of vaccine across all providers within the flu vaccination programme would be key matters on which to judge any future proposals from the NHS,” he said.

Read more: Pharmacy minister gets flu jab on ‘first visit’ to community pharmacy

Buxton added that CPE provided “frank feedback” to NHSE that the data asked for in the survey will likely be considered “commercially sensitive” for pharmacy owners and it’s “very unlikely many will be minded to share” such data with NHSE.

This data would include vaccine prices, discounts, and the percentage split between NHS and private vaccinations administered. 

It also includes information on “current arrangements that pharmacies have in place with manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, as well as administrative workload and wastage of vaccine”.

Exception

The survey is in response to the NHS Vaccination Strategy published in December 2023 which sought to “improve the efficiency and responsiveness of vaccine supply” said NHSE.

All other NHS vaccination programmes have their vaccines “procured and distributed centrally” but the adult flu vaccine is the only exception to this.

The NHSE said if its procurement and supply changed in line with all other vaccines, it would mean the adult flu vaccine used in the flu vaccination advanced service by community pharmacies and by general practices would be “centrally purchased by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)”.

Read more: ‘It shocked me’: LPC chief urges pharmacists to get flu jab

And it would be “supplied free-of-charge to pharmacies and practices” in this programme, according to CPE.

It added that “pharmacy owners would still need to purchase their own vaccine for use in non-NHS services they offer”.

We’re asking community pharmacy if you think the government should take this approach. Let us know by 5pm on Friday (November 29) on this LinkedIn poll, and share your thoughts on this in the comments.