Pharmacies in London are taking part in a campaign to support an initiative by the NHS in London to raise awareness of the national NHS shingles vaccination programme.

Uptake of the vaccine across London boroughs varies hugely, with the overall rate being 48 per cent of those eligible compared with 58 per cent in the rest of the country. The uptake in some London boroughs is as low as 36 per cent.

London pharmacies are this month highlighting the availability of the shingles vaccine to eligible groups of patients and will ask those they think might be eligible a few simple questions to help identify if they will benefit from having the vaccination done at their GP practice. If their eligibility is confirmed and they remain unvaccinated, pharmacy staff will signpost them to their general practice to get the vaccine.

Pharmacists Rekha Shah and Michael Levitan of the London Pharmacy NHS Vaccination team said: “The importance of people getting this vaccination will be highlighted to those who are, or look as if they might be, eligible for the vaccination when they go into any London pharmacy during July.”