Community Pharmacies Deliver NHS Covid Jabs

Life-saving coronavirus jabs will begin to be delivered at two community pharmacies in the North West from today, as the NHS accelerates the biggest vaccination programme in its history.

The two pharmacies, Andrew’s Pharmacy in Macclesfield and Appleton Village Pharmacy, Widnes are among a number of community and high street pharmacies opening today across England with two hundred community pharmacies due to come online over the next two weeks as more vaccine supplies come on stream by the end of the month. 

Pharmacies capable of delivering large volumes while allowing for social distancing are initially being selected to give the best geographical spread. 

In the North West, jabs are now being offered in a vaccination centre at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, 48 hospital hubs along with around 106 GP-led services, with another 30 GP-led sites coming online this week. 

Andrew’s Pharmacy shares its hometown of Macclesfield with AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company who along with Oxford University, developed the vaccine. 

Andrew Hodgson, director and pharmacist at Andrew’s Pharmacy, said:  

“Throughout the pandemic, the essential role of pharmacies has been highlighted and we’ve had amazing support from our local community, including volunteer drivers and scout leaders. Our doors stayed open, providing face-to-face consultations, working non- stop through most bank holidays at the heart of the community. 

“We ran a very successful flu vaccine campaign so it made sense that we should be involved in delivering the COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. Today has been the single biggest day of my career. We are all excited to be able to play a significant part in bringing the pandemic to an end.”

Robert Salt, 82, who became the first to be vaccinated at Andrew’s Pharmacy, worked in Macclesfield’s bustling silk industry before retiring.

He said: “It’s a relief to have had it. I still have responsibility for my wife at home who hasn’t had it yet because she’s under 80, so I’m still going to very careful.

“It’s also great to have had the AstraZeneca vaccine – everyone here knows someone who works there.”

Appleton Village Pharmacy in Widnes have pooled many of their 120 staff to help with the launch and administering of the vaccine. 

Martin Stratton, director at Appleton Village Pharmacy, said:  

“Appleton Village Pharmacy has been serving the people of Widnes for nearly ten years. We pride ourselves on being a local, friendly and accessible Pharmacy.  

“During the COVID pandemic, pharmacy has, again, proved itself as a vital, well respected part of the NHS. We are all very excited and privileged to be part of the COVID vaccination service and look forward to continuing to improve the health of our local residents.” 

Kirsty McCaw is a Pharmacist at Appleton Village Pharmacy, and one of the team responsible for vaccinating patients, she said: 

“It has been amazing and really exciting to be a part of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in pharmacy.   

“When you are part of a community pharmacy you are a part of the community, we see generations of families who trust us and feel comfortable with us.  They know they can ask us questions and we can help them.”  

Dr Bruce Warner, Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer who visited Andrew’s Pharmacy on Wednesday for a tour of the facilities, said:

“The NHS coronavirus vaccination programme, the biggest in health service history, has got off to a great start with more than 2.4 million jabs delivered. 

“Pharmacy teams have been working incredibly hard throughout the pandemic and, as we accelerate the vaccination programme, they are playing a vital role in delivering the life-saving jabs to those in their communities. 

“We know that people are very keen to get the vaccine but we are appealing to people not to turn up early so that we can maintain social distancing.” 

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “It is fantastic that high-street pharmacies will now begin deploying COVID-19 vaccinations. Pharmacies sit at the heart of local communities and will make a big difference to our rollout programme by providing even more local, convenient places for those that are eligible to get their jab. 

“Pharmacists have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, often acting as the first port of call for medical advice - and often staying open when all around have closed. I want to extend my thanks to every pharmacy for their efforts to support the national response to the pandemic and keep people safe.” 

• Anyone in the highest risk groups who don’t want to travel or to a large-scale vaccination centre can wait to be called forward by their local GP or hospital services. If that is the case, or if they have received the vaccination through another route since the invitation went out, they do not need to do anything.
   
• The first pilot sites will start vaccinations today with up to 70 more taking bookings for next week and hundreds opening by the end of the month.
  
  The other pilot sites are:
  • Boots, Halifax
  • Superdrug Pharmacy, Guildford
  • Cullimore Chemist, Edgware
  • Woodside Pharmacy, Telford

• The Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine has been rolled out to GP-led and pharmacy services and is easier to transport and get to care home residents.

Pictured - Pharmacist Andrew Hodgson.