Assurances on funding and vaccine supplies needed following booster programme guidance

Commenting on the COVID-19 vaccination booster programme guidance for the NHS, Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, said:

"With pressures rising across all parts of the NHS, we welcome the clarity this guidance provides about the booster programme. We should not, however, underestimate the amount of work needed to plan for this amid the workload providers across the system are currently facing and alongside the traditional flu vaccination programme. 

"Plans to spread the load to community pharmacy and other sites are welcome, but it is disappointing not to see the role of GP Federations acknowledged, given the significant amount of work they have delivered in the current vaccination programme.

"Primary care providers will now need to see confirmation of the funding available to undertake the programme, as well as assurance around supplies, including guarantees that they will be available when and where they are needed at every stage, from first doses to boosters."