Covid 19 vaccination service – Community Pharmacy Leicestershire and Rutland

Covid 19 vaccination service

NHS England have commissioned a Covid-19 vaccination service directly from community pharmacy. It is commissioned where there is a requirement for Covid-19 vaccinations and where Pharmacy Contractors can meet the minimum requirements from their pharmacy premises, or where there is a local population need and where NHS England considers the Pharmacy Contractor is best placed to meet that need via provision at off-site premises. The service will be provided as an Enhanced Service (“an ES”), commissioned by NHS England in consultation with Community Pharmacy England.

The end date of the current COVID-19 vaccination contracts will be extended from 31 March 2024 to 31 August 2024. Providers need to let their local commissioner know by 22 February 2024 if they can continue delivering the COVID-19 vaccination service from 31 March 2024 to 31 August 2024 and content for their contracts to be extended.

The enhanced service specifications and Standard Contract Schedules have been updated and are published here:

Minimal changes have been made to the contracts with the exception of the end date and payment arrangements from 1 April 2024:

The COVID-19 vaccination Item of Service fee will continue to be £7.54 per COVID-19 vaccine administered. However, in recognition of the limited opportunities for co-administration during Spring/Summer campaigns and inter-seasonal periods, from 1 April 2024 there will be an additional payment of £2.50 for the administration of each COVID-19 vaccine where the seasonal influenza vaccination is not announced and authorised for vaccination by the provider.
A £10 additional payment will continue to be available for the administration of each COVID-19 vaccine to eligible housebound patients, but there will be no additional payments for care home visits from April 2024.

More can be found here : https://cpe.org.uk/our-news/c-19-vacs-nhse-extends-contracts-until-31st-august/