The Boots COVID-19 vaccination hub in Halifax opened today, and the high street health and beauty retailer has also received approval to open additional vaccination sites at Gloucester and Huddersfield pharmacies in January. There is also option to roll out to further locations nationwide in the future.
Seb James, Managing Director of Boots UK and ROI, said: “As we begin vaccinations at our Halifax pharmacy today, we are incredibly proud to support the NHS during this extraordinary time.
“Like COVID-19 testing, we believe Boots can play a key role in the vaccination programme – our pharmacists are experts in vaccination programmes and have a trusted role at the heart of our local communities.
“Pharmacies are extremely well placed to support the roll out of this vaccine quickly and safely, and we stand ready to do much more.
“We stand ready to do more to support the NHS and the government to accelerate its rollout.”
Boots has extensive knowledge, experience and proven capability in vaccination services making it well places to support the NHS in delivering the vaccine across the UK.
Boots has presented a model for COVID-19 vaccinations to be administered in Boots stores, aligned with its exceptional safety, clinical and operational standards.
As part of its preparations to support these three new vaccination sites, Boots has already begun specialist training with pharmacists on the handling and administering of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Patients will be invited directly by the NHS to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment at the Boots Halifax, Gloucester and Huddersfield pharmacies.
Natasha Eastwood, Store Manager of Boots in Halifax, added: “I’m thrilled that our pharmacy has been selected to be at the forefront of the nation’s vaccination efforts, and I’m grateful to our entire team who have been working around the clock to set up our new vaccination site.
“Pharmacies like ours are at the very heart of their local community, offering a trusted team and location that our patients are familiar and comfortable with to be vaccinated against COVID-19.”
Superdrug has also announced it will be rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in Guildford from today.
From 8am-8pm, seven days a week, pharmacists and nurses at Superdrug in Guildford will be administering the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to patients on behalf of the NHS.
They will deliver around 1000 vaccinations per week – that’s one every five minutes. Daily numbers will however vary based on the number of patients allocated by the NHS through their national booking platform.
Michael Henry, Superdrug’s Healthcare Director said: “Today sees a significant step forward in making the vaccination more accessible to people most at risk from coronavirus as our pharmacists and nurses use their clinical expertise to deliver the vaccine.
“Guildford is the first of five current Superdrug sites to support the NHS with the rollout of its critical vaccination programme and we are in active discussions for additional vaccination sites through further pharmacy involvement.”
He continued: “We are proud to be working with the NHS and welcome the opportunity for more of our front-line clinical teams together with other community pharmacy teams to play an even greater role in delivering the vaccination service to more patients more quickly.”
As well as Guildford, Superdrug has confirmed it will be offering the Covid vaccine at sites in Manchester, Basingstoke and Bristol.
Other vaccination sites are yet to be announced.
Superdrug said it will be following the strict eligibility and booking protocols agreed with the NHS. These are:
- The NHS will contact patients directly following the cohort priority list.
- Patients will need to book an appointment for their vaccine with the NHS directly via the NHS National Booking Site as this is not a walk-in service. At the designated time a patient will need to arrive at the designed Superdrug location.
- Patients will then have their booking reference reviewed and confirmed by one of Superdrug’s registered healthcare professionals before being vaccinated in one of Superdrug’s registered consultation rooms.
- Following their vaccination patients will be required to wait for 15mins to be monitored for side effects.
Superdrug was the first to introduce COVID-19 antibody testing which is available both as an at-home service through a finger prick sample, and as a healthcare professional led service in its Health clinics.
Most recently Superdrug expanded its services with Fit to Fly PCR test and is now supporting the vaccination roll out. Superdrug continues to remain open as an essential retailer and for the provision of NHS pharmacy services.