Community pharmacies should have strong plans to offer flu vaccines to underserved residents

The government has proclaimed that community pharmacies in England should have strong plans to offer flu vaccines to underserved residents during the 2021/2022 flu season.

Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care proclaimed PHE would analyse monthly immunisation data broken down by ethnic group in their annual national influenza immunisation programme letter.

This year’s analysing will also comprise data on the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The government has proclaimed that community pharmacies in England should have strong plans to offer flu vaccines to underserved residents during the 2021/2022 flu season.

Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care proclaimed PHE would analyse monthly immunisation data broken down by ethnic group in their annual national influenza immunisation programme letter.

This year’s analysing will also comprise data on the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The letter stated: “We need to ensure those who are living in the most deprived areas, from ethnic minority and other underserved communities, have equitable uptake compared to the population as a whole. It will therefore require high quality, dedicated and interculturally competent engagement with local communities, employers, faith and advocacy groups. Providers are expected to ensure they have robust plans in place for tackling health inequalities for all underserved groups to ensure equality of access.”