Community pharmacies to undertake Covid vaccination

Community pharmacies to undertake Covid vaccination
Community pharmacy to undertake vaccination roll out - 300 already signed up

Over 300 community pharmacies have already signed up to join the Covid-19 vaccination programme from March 30, Health Minister Robin Swann said, bringing the life-saving vaccination drive to many local high streets, urban and rural neighbourhoods.

The plan will see hundreds of community pharmacies provide vaccinations to members of the public, complementing the work of GP practices and vaccination centres.

The official launch of the roll-out to community pharmacies will be on March 30, although it is expected that many will have started before then.

Northern Ireland’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Cathy Harrison said: “Community pharmacies are the most accessible healthcare service for the public and their involvement in the Covid-19 vaccination programme will build on the success of their role in Northern Ireland’s 2020/21 winter flu vaccination. “I want to thank all the pharmacy staff involved and representatives of the community pharmacy sector for their support in bringing this plan to fruition.”

Joe Brogan, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management at the Health and Social Care Board, said: “The Covid vaccination campaign is one of the ways that we as a society will move forward. It is vital that our population has every opportunity to access this service and it’s fantastic to have over 300 further points where people can book an appointment for a vaccine at a time and a place that suits them. I wish to recognise the tremendous response of community pharmacy teams in supporting the response to Covid and our pathway out of the pandemic.”