Community pharmacies delivered nearly a quarter of a million more flu vaccinations in 2017/18 than in the previous year, taking the sector over the one million mark for the first time, new figures reveal.

The latest data from PharmOutcomes, Sonar Informatics and Healthi shows that in the flu season ending 31 March 2018, just under 1.2 million vaccinations were administed. This represents an increase of almost 250,000 on the previous year, when 950,765 flu vaccinations were recorded.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee says that as some pharmacies have administered vaccinations without recording them electronically, the total number is likely to be higher.

PSNC director of NHS services Alastair Buxton said: “This is a fantastic result by community pharmacy teams and it proves their dedication and commitment to provide the best possible service to their patients. Pharmacy teams all over the country have done a fantastic job to promote and provide the Flu Vaccination Service and in this way have played an important part in helping patients and the NHS to cope with the particularly challenging winter we have all just experienced.

“Thanks go to all community pharmacy contractors and their teams, and LPCs for working so hard to make this service a success. The results show that more and more patients are valuing the convenience and accessibility of being able to get a flu vaccination in their local community pharmacy.”