Access to vaccination services has increased in recent years with community pharmacies in England delivering more vital and convenient services than ever before.
Since September 2015, community pharmacies have played a major role in preventing flu through a nationally commissioned service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacies showed their agility to vaccinate communities at pace and continue to deliver seasonal vaccinations under a national advanced service. In 2025, the NHS Childhood flu vaccination service was piloted as a community pharmacy advanced service, and this pilot service has been extended and expanded for the 2026/27 flu immunisation programme.
The national enhanced service for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Pertussis vaccinations has highlighted how pharmacies can provide positive impact for emerging health challenges through vaccination. More recently, a one-off time-limited Meningococcal B vaccination service will be offered as a community pharmacy advanced service to protect eligible students before they start university or higher education.
In addition to nationally commissioned services, some pharmacies may also deliver locally commissioned services and/or private vaccination services such as travel clinics.
Recent legislative changes allow a pharmacy technician to assess, supply and administer certain vaccines under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) or Vaccine Group Direction (VGD). Registered pharmacy professionals must be authorised under the current version of a PGD or VGD for a specified vaccination service, before working according to it. This applies whether the service is NHS commissioned, locally commissioned or privately provided.
In addition to delivering vaccination services, pharmacy teams are well placed to help address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation as well as advising on a range of health promotion and public health initiatives. This enables people to make considered, informed choices through shared decision making.
To deliver the NHS national advanced seasonal vaccination services – COVID-19 and adult influenza you need to undertake training, gain competence and be familiar with the service specification and the associated Patient Group Direction (PGD) or Vaccine Group Direction (VGD).
When providing a service under a VGD, the pharmacist or pharmacy technician operates as the clinician in a similar way to a PGD. However, this new legislation allows for some tasks within the vaccination process (for example, preparation, administration and record keeping) to be delegated to other suitably trained healthcare staff. Each VGD will specifically state which tasks can be delegated and to whom, and this may vary between VGDs. The gaining of consent and clinical assessment of a person to determine suitability for a vaccine cannot be delegated and must be completed by the registered pharmacist or pharmacy technician. The Specialist Pharmacy Service has published resources to help you understand what a VGD is, and how it is used to support vaccine administration.
National advanced community pharmacy seasonal vaccination services – COVID-19 and adult influenza:
RSV and Pertussis vaccination service:
Service information and associated documents can be found on the Community Pharmacy England website.
NHS Childhood Flu Vaccination Service:
Information and resources can be found in the NHS Childhood Flu Vaccination Service section at the bottom of this page.
NHS Meningitis B Vaccination Service:
Information and resources can be found in the NHS Meningococcal B vaccination service section at the bottom of this page.
When operating under a PGD or VGD, GPhC registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must be authorised under the current published version before working according to it. Registered pharmacy professionals and suitably trained healthcare staff must only administer vaccines where it is within their scope of clinical practice, and they have undertaken appropriate training in line with the national minimum standards and core curriculum for vaccination training. Please ensure you are fully familiar with the legislation and regulatory frameworks for working under PGDs and VGDs. For guidance and learning resources go to our PGDs: training guide and resources page.
Before commencement of the service, pharmacy contractors must ensure that pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy staff providing the service are competent to do so.
As a pharmacy professional, you are personally responsible for keeping your knowledge and skills up to date and relevant to your roles and responsibilities which will include responding to new guidance, standards and any relevant learning programmes and assessments.
The National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training describes the minimum training, assessment and supervision that should be provided to those with a role in delivering vaccination.
To administer vaccines, you must have undertaken practical training that meets the requirements of the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination. This includes practical training in vaccination, basic life support and administration of adrenaline for anaphylaxis.
It is likely that your commissioner, employer or pharmacy owner will have determined how frequently you will need to attend practical training. Please refer to the service specification, PGD or VGD (as appropriate) for information.
You will find a list of training providers on the Community Pharmacy England (CPE) website.
The National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training for all healthcare staff with a role in delivering vaccination programmes notes that in addition to acquiring knowledge through a theoretical taught course, practitioners need to develop clinical skills in administration of vaccines and apply their knowledge in practice. A period of supervised practice with a registered healthcare practitioner who is experienced, up to date and competent in vaccination, is strongly recommended. If you are returning to vaccination after a prolonged gap, you may also need a period of supervised practice. Please refer to the service specification, PGD or VGD (as appropriate) for more information.
As a pharmacy professional you are responsible for keeping your knowledge and skills up to date. The Vaccination services DoC system helps you reflect on your skills, identify gaps and meet your learning and assessment needs. It also allows you to show commissioners and employers/pharmacy owners that you are competent to provide the vaccination service.
The UKHSA Vaccinator competency assessment tool in Appendix A of the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training supports you to demonstrate you are competent to deliver vaccinations. It can be used for self-assessment or formal evaluation. New vaccinators are advised to complete it for assessment and sign-off of their clinical skills.
In this section you will find a selection of suggested resources, e-learning and supporting assessments intended to help you to meet your own individual development needs.
Community pharmacies will be able to offer children flu vaccinations during the 2026/27 flu season to support improvements in access and uptake. The inclusion of eligible children in the flu vaccination service 2026/27 season is covered in the Amendment to national flu immunisation programme 2026 to 2027 letter.
To deliver the NHS Childhood Flu Vaccination Service you need to undertake training, gain competence, access and be familiar with the service specification and the associated Patient Group Direction (PGD) and/or Vaccine Group Direction (VGD).
Community Pharmacy England publishes information and guidance, including the service specification, for community pharmacies wishing to provide the childhood seasonal influenza vaccination.
The Annual flu programme collection provides resources to support you to deliver the 2026/27 seasonal flu programme.
All pharmacy professional vaccinators must complete training which meets the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training and be competent to administer vaccines to children using both live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV).
Learning resources to support you to deliver flu vaccination services can be found in the Learning resources to support your development section above. In addition, we have included below a selection of suggested resources and e-learning intended to help you to meet your individual learning needs to deliver the NHS Childhood Flu Vaccination Service.
The NHS Meningococcal B vaccination service is a one-off vaccination programme which offers young people across England the opportunity to get protection against meningitis caused by the meningococcal B (MenB) bacteria. The programme launches ahead of the 2026 academic year through community pharmacies.
Community Pharmacy England has published information and guidance for community pharmacies wishing to provide the service, which includes the background and aims of the service and patient eligibility. UKHSA has also published information for healthcare practitioners in relation to this time-limited vaccination offer.
To deliver this one-off NHS Meningococcal B vaccination service you need to undertake training, gain competence, access and be familiar with the service specification and the associated Patient Group Direction (PGD).
All pharmacy professional vaccinators must complete training which meets the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training and ensure they are competent to administer the MenB vaccines to the patient. Vaccinators must have read and understood the clinical guidance available in relation to the service, the key sources being:
Vaccinators must also have knowledge to recognise the signs and symptoms of meningitis and sepsis and be able to communicate these to patients.
Learning resources and competency tools
Learning resources and competency tools to support you to deliver safe and effective vaccination services can be found in the Evidence of competence and Learning resources to support your development sections above.
