Independent pharmacies played a leading role in administering Covid-19 vaccines in the country, latest data compiled by the National Pharmacy Association has revealed.
According to the latest research conducted by the NPA and PharmData, independent community pharmacies were the biggest deliverers of Covid vaccines during January - September 2021 as compared to corporate-run pharmacy sites.
The PharmData figures which looked at 610 pharmacy sites around the country showed that 85 per cent of them were independents, most of whom are NPA members.
NPA chief executive Mark Lyonette said: “These figures show us that flexible, locally engaged, entrepreneurial independent community pharmacies are making a huge contribution to the vaccine programme.
“Our members have been a shining example of going above and beyond in the most challenging of circumstances to provide millions of Covid jabs, including boosters. Looking further forward, pharmacies will probably still be protecting people long after the mass vaccination centres have been wound down.”
A spokesperson from PharmData said: “This analysis shows the power of numbers to tell stories about how community pharmacies are delivering for the nation. The data present a compelling picture of the great things pharmacies do.”
Latest figures indicate that the total number of Covid jabs delivered by pharmacies up to September were 11.4 million.
As of January 2022, pharmacies across the whole sector had delivered 22 million Covid jabs, including a third of all booster jabs.
Graeme Duncan 
