1. What vaccines are being rolled out?
- Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine - 40 Million doses secured
- Oxford/AztraZeneca adenoviral vector vaccine - 100 million doses secured
- Moderna mRNA vaccine - 17 Million doses secured
Another 46 pharmacy-led sites will begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations. This takes the total number of pharmacy-led sites offering COVID-19 vaccinations to 117. The characteristics of the vaccines vary, with some, such as the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine requiring “standard” storage between 2-8°C.
Others, notably the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, must be stored at -70°C until it is thawed, ahead of use. Once thawed, it can be stored between 2-8°C for up to 5 days and prior to administration it needs to be reconstituted. The vaccine is delivered in an outer pack which contains 975 doses.
2. How many people have been vaccinated?
Official figures from across the UK’s four nations showed that 374,756 people received a jab on Tuesday, taking the headline total to 10.02 million, less than two months after the programme began. If the current rate continues, the UK will be on track to give a dose to the 15 million people in the top four priority groups by mid-February, and to complete the remaining five priority groups – another 17 million people – in early April, just after Easter, at the point where the need for second jabs begins.
3. How can locum pharmacists get their CV-19 essential worker vaccine?
The PDA has launched a locum registration portal where any registered locum pharmacist can register their details. These details will be forwarded to local CCGs in England and the Health Boards in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who will then contact locums to arrange the vaccination. This service is being provided free of charge to any pharmacist (who does not need to be a PDA member) and who is working/living within the UK.
4. What are the indemnity arrangements that are in place to cover the vaccination programme?
COVID-19 vaccination activity undertaken in community pharmacy will be covered by the state indemnity schemes run by NHS Resolution until the end of June 2021. The indemnity arrangements apply to all staff who are employed or engaged by a community pharmacy to deliver the LES vaccination service.
All exceptions to coverage can be found HERE.
5. How can community pharmacy get involved?
Community pharmacy can get involved with general practices in your PCN to support the PCN vaccination site and any outreach into care homes etc. We anticipate that locums will be needed in vaccination sites across the UK in the coming months to help administer the vaccine and support the vaccination rollout. You could also indirectly support the vaccination operations by locuming in different pharmacies to help cover the natural footfall of other pharmacists who will be vaccinating or taking annual leave. Both general practice/PCN and community pharmacy designated sites will be expected to be able to operate from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, vaccinating a minimum of 1000 people per week
Are you interested in putting your name forward to be contacted about locum work in vaccination hubs? Fill in the form below!