Community pharmacy teams across London have completed over 40,000 flu vaccinations in the first three weeks since the latest vaccination programme went live on September 8.

This winter is the first time community pharmacies across London, and the rest of England, have been able to offer NHS flu jabs as part of the first ever national pharmacy vaccination scheme.

All adults aged 65 years and over, and those aged 18 years or over and in clinical risk groups, can receive a free of charge NHS flu jab at community pharmacies across the country. People in at-risk groups include pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions including asthma and diabetes.

Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, commented: “Over recent years community pharmacy has proved its worth as the right place to help increase the numbers of high risk groups having the flu vaccination. Success stories such as London, which offered 116,000 NHS flu jabs last year, and are well set to surpass that figure this year, have helped convince the NHS that a national service is in patients’ best interest.“