Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

NHS begins Covid-19 booster jab programme

The NHS started delivering Covid-19 booster vaccines to people in eligible groups of over-50s from Thursday (September 16).

Following the new advice by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the NHS vaccination programme will now invite eligible people, who had their second Covid jab at least six months ago, for a top up.


Hospital hubs have started vaccinating frontline health and care workers and identifying other eligible patients for the booster dose. GP-led local vaccination services will follow the suit in coming days.

Full vaccination rollout will commence from next week with more vaccination centres and community pharmacy-led sites starting the service.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “Alongside one of our busiest summers in the NHS, our hardworking staff have also been gearing up to deliver the autumn booster programme, to give further protection to healthcare and social care workers and those most at risk from the virus.

“Now that the advice has been set out by the JCVI and once the relevant checks are in place, the NHS will invite you for your booster vaccination. There is no need to contact the NHS – we will be in touch with you when it is your turn to get your booster vaccine – at least six months on since your last dose.”

In the nine months since the largest vaccination programme began, 77 million vaccinations have been delivered, with four in five adults already receiving both doses.

In line with JCVI advice people will receive either one dose of the Pfizer vaccine or half a dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Health secretary Sajid Javid said: “We know vaccines save lives and with every jab our wall of defence across the country gets higher, with more than 112,300 lives saved and over 24 million cases prevented in England alone.

“I urge everyone who is eligible to come forward for their booster when invited, to prolong the protection that the vaccine offers those most at risk as we approach the winter months”.

More For You

Lack of funding deters NI pharmacy contractors from expanding portfolio

W G Hamilton Pharmacy is the third pharmacy in Northern Ireland to be recently sold to first-time buyers.

Pharmacy ownership trends shift in Northern Ireland due to funding gap

An increasing number of pharmacies in Northern Ireland are being acquired by first-time buyers, as existing contractors and groups pull back from expanding their portfolios amid ongoing funding pressures, according to specialist business property adviser Christie & Co.

Among the most recent sales is W G Hamilton Pharmacy, a busy community pharmacy in Ballysillan, North Belfast.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS backs Pharmacist Support "Gift in Wills" initiative

The ‘Gift in Wills’ initiative is delivered in partnership with Bequeathed.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Leave a legacy: RPS partners with Pharmacist Support to promote ‘Gift in Wills’

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced its support for the ‘Gift in Wills’ initiative run by Pharmacist Support, coinciding with the charity’s birthday celebrations today (Tuesday 15 April).

This collaboration allows RPS members to create a free will while also helping to safeguard the future of vital support services for the pharmacy profession.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pharmacist Support calls for birthday donations to meet rising demand for mental health services

More and more pharmacy professionals are reaching out for help, said Danielle Hunt.

Pharmacist Support's birthday appeal: Donate to address growing mental health demand

Pharmacist Support – the independent charity dedicated to the pharmacy profession – is celebrating 184 years of service with the launch of a special birthday donations appeal.

On 15 April, the charity is urging individuals and organisations across the sector to support its campaign to raise vital funds to meet the increasing demand for its mental health and wellbeing services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prostate cancer: At-home saliva test could save NHS £500 million annually

PRS saliva test can identify prostate cancer that was missed by an MRI scan

Photo credit: gettyimages

Prostate cancer: Spit test better than blood test in spotting men at highest risk

A simple at-home spit test could help detect prostate cancer earlier, saving the NHS around £500 million a year, according to new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the study found that the DNA-based saliva test was more accurate than the current prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test in identifying men at risk of developing prostate cancer.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS launches innovative new learning resources for members

With RPS Learn, pharmacists can develop a new skill or improve their understanding of practice or a clinical topic.

Gettyimages

RPS launches new learning resources to boost career development for members

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has launched a new online learning platform designed to support the practice, development and career advancement of its members.

The new platform, called RPS Learn, offers a diverse range of bite-size learning content, available on-demand, catering to all levels — from introductory to advanced and specialist —combining new content with RPS's renowned expertise in education and training to achieve excellence for learners.

Keep ReadingShow less