NPA to provide meningitis vaccination training to members

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is moving to help expand the range of services offered by pharmacists by providing meningitis vaccination training to its members.

Under the terms of the scheme, all NPA members who are attending the organisation's existing influenza vaccination course in September 2010 will be provided with the meningitis training for no extra cost.

In addition, the organisation will be working to allow pharmacists who are already qualified to give flu vaccinations to offer the meningitis jabs via a separate set of Patient Group Directions.

According to the organisation, this scheme will help to address a growing public health issue, arising from the number of UK resident travelling abroad.

Moreover, the NPA has been calling on the government for some months to recognise the increasingly wide range of services provided by community pharmacists.

Ian Facer, the organisation's chairman, has stated that the sector should be given a more frontline role in UK healthcare as a result.