December 2021 - Community Pharmacy NI

Northern Ireland’s community pharmacies have administered 250,000 COVID-19 vaccinations as the professional teams continue to push ahead with the expanding vaccination service.

The 250,000-vaccine milestone encompasses the primary and booster vaccinations administered since the sector’s inclusion in the vaccination programme in March 2021.

Community pharmacy is now the main provider of first and second COVID-19 vaccination doses as well as delivering the booster vaccination to those eligible through community pharmacy (currently those aged 30 and over, and three months since second vaccine dose).

Currently, over 250 community pharmacies are providing the Moderna booster vaccination for all those who are eligible.

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

“Reaching this significant milestone is a credit to the work and dedication of our community pharmacy teams. The network joined the vaccination programme back in March and since then has been working incredibly hard to maximise the levels of protection against COVID-19 across our communities. Administering 250,000 vaccines in nine months shows the value of accessible and convenient community pharmacy locations and the community pharmacy teams have played a significant role in getting overall numbers to where they are today. During the recent Community Pharmacy ‘Big Jab Weekend’ over sixty local pharmacies vaccinated over 11,000 people with their COVID-19 vaccine or booster, which is a tremendous achievement.

As we approach some of the busiest weeks in Community Pharmacy, our pharmacy teams will be working hard to dispense the medicines patients will need for the Christmas and new year holiday periods. I would ask the public to be patient as this may affect the availability of the COVID-19 vaccination service at some community pharmacies in the lead up to and over the festive season.

Sean Grimley, community pharmacist at Pharmacy Plus said:

“As a community pharmacist, I’ve seen daily the benefit of providing the COVID-19 vaccine to those living locally in the community. Community pharmacy is the first choice for many in our neighborhoods, including the elderly and those unable to travel, due to our convenient location and the fact that patients trust us. It has been really encouraging to be able to provide primary doses and booster jabs to our patients and support them throughout this period.

“Working in the community, we are live to the concerns from patients in relation to increased COVID-19 transmissibility and ease of access to vaccines which is why it is so important that we continue to provide all doses required to give the maximum protection possible and allay the concerns patients might have.”

To find your nearest participating community pharmacy: http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/booster-covid19-vaccination/

Belfast’s community pharmacy workforce has been recognised at the prestigious Aisling Awards in recognition of their continued commitment to patient care throughout the past twelve months.

Receiving the ‘Roll of Honour’ award, for those who have repeatedly gone the extra mile for the people of Belfast, a special recognition was given to the city’s community pharmacists for going beyond their day-to-day services to support their patients in communities across the city.

Earlier this year saw the community pharmacy network introduce an Emergency Supply of Medicines Service and a prescription delivery service to provide vulnerable, self-isolating and shielding patients with direct access to their medicines from home.

In taking home this year’s Award, the accessibility of the community pharmacy network was highlighted with the sector now the leading provider of first and second dose Covid-19 vaccinations; as well as a community access point for the flu vaccine and distribution of Lateral Flow Tests, reducing transmission and winter pressures at a pivotal moment for our health service.

Speaking as he receives the award on behalf of the Belfast pharmacy network, Chair of Community Pharmacy NI, Peter Rice said:

“It’s an incredible honour to accept this year’s Roll of Honour Award on behalf of the community pharmacists of Belfast. During the last twelve months, community pharmacists from right across the city have shown remarkable levels of commitment and dedication to patient care. Whether through the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, which began back in March to the launch of new winter pressure measures to guide us through the months ahead, community pharmacy has been steadfast in its dedication, delivery, and commitment at each stage.

“This has been a year like no other and community pharmacy teams right across Belfast and beyond have been tested like never before. The pandemic brought increased footfall and a spike in demand for services such as the dispensing of medicines. As a sector we recognised at an early stage that this would be a hugely uncertain time for many of our patients and stepped-up services to support those increasingly contacting their local community pharmacy as other parts of the health service became less accessible.

“I want to pay tribute to each and every community pharmacist for continuing to go the extra mile in support of their communities. The hard-work and unyielding commitment to patient care has been the defining characteristic of my colleagues over the last year and it is fantastic for this to be acknowledged in this way.”

The countdown is on to the Community Pharmacy “Big Jab Weekend” taking place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December 2021.

“Get vaccinated and boost your immunity” is the message behind the weekend which sees many community pharmacies across Northern Ireland increasing their vaccination provision to help encourage uptake of COVID-19 primary and booster vaccines, for those who are eligible.

Peter Rice, Community Pharmacist said, “The “Big Jab Weekend” will see participating community pharmacies opening up more opportunities for people to get vaccinated either at their pharmacies, or pharmacy led walk-in clinics. The service is available for those who need their 1^st or 2^nd COVID-19 vaccine or if they are eligible for their booster jab. This is currently the 40 and over age group who received their 2^nd dose at least six months ago and those aged 50 and above who received their 2^nd dose at least three months ago. As there will be different levels of provision at each participating pharmacy, I would ask the public to link with their local community pharmacy’s social media channels for more information.

To date 211,000 vaccines have been administered through the community pharmacy sector in Northern Ireland and the outstanding contribution of the profession in the vaccination programme has been widely recognised. The “Big Jab Weekend” will build on this, helping to get more people vaccinated ahead of a challenging winter period, providing greater protection for themselves, their loved ones and the wider community”.

ENDS//

Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds has praised the work of Community Pharmacies in the roll-out of the booster vaccine. Mrs Dodds has encouraged anyone eligible to receive their booster to do so as soon as possible.

The Upper Bann MLA was speaking after she received her booster vaccine through the Community Pharmacy Programme, at Gordons Chemist in Banbridge.

Mrs Dodds said,

“We know that the booster programme is the single most effective tool that we have in our collective effort to combat Covid-19. The Chief Scientific Advisor was clear, the booster programme would reduce hospitalisations by at least 15%.

I warmly welcome the increased efforts to speed up the booster roll-out and pay tribute to the work of community pharmacies, who have played a leading role in the programme.

I would strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to receive the booster vaccine to do so as soon as possible. Either through their local community pharmacy, their GP or local vaccination centre.

It is important that we build on the progress of the booster programme and ramp-up the roll-out in the coming weeks.

As we approach the Christmas period, it is vital that we all continue to follow the public health advice to reduce the spread of the virus.”