Category: News

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”.

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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.”

Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride received his COVID 19 booster vaccination today at a walk-in COVID-19 clinic in North Belfast organised by McKenzies Pharmacy.

This comes as nearly 200,000 primary vaccine doses and 40,000 booster doses of COVID 19 vaccine have been administered by community pharmacies across NI.

Community pharmacist Peter Rice administered Sir Michael’s booster dose at the Houben Centre. He remarked that there has been a “significant” increase in people presenting for first doses in recent days. With about 30% of doses administered at the minute are for first doses.

In the wake of persistent and widespread workforce pressures, community pharmacists have voted overwhelmingly to cease providing medicines in compliance aids such as medicines trays for new patients from 1st December 2021.

At a meeting of community pharmacist contractors last week, 97% voted to close the medicine adherence service to new patients from the start of next month. Faced with mounting pressures and without the appropriate investment, community pharmacists have serious concerns about their ability to continue providing this non-commissioned service, that is delivered largely on a goodwill basis.

The service involves community pharmacists supporting patients in the community to manage their medicines, and involves an in-depth pharmacist consultation, continuous monitoring, medicines provision in a specialised container, and regular and ongoing collaboration between a patient, their family, and the pharmacist.

Community pharmacists have continually warned that due to sustained workforce pressures and increasing staffing shortages, they would reach a point at which they could no longer accept new patients if they were to ensure the safe delivery of commissioned core services, including the dispensing of medicines and Covid-19 vaccination and Booster services.

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene said:

“Due to increasing pressures, community pharmacists must prioritise core services and the contractor vote to cease providing new patients requiring non-commissioned compliance aid services was not taken lightly. We are now in a position which no community pharmacist wants to be in but continuing to accept new patients whilst managing an already demanding workload, coupled with severe workforce shortages would put both patient safety and commissioned pharmacy services at risk.

“Community pharmacists are an essential part of the delivery of the adherence service, using their clinical skills at a community level to support patients in managing their medicines safely. They want to continue to support their patients but only via a service commissioned and appropriately funded by the Health and Social Care Board.”

Community Pharmacist Peter Rice said:

“As essential primary healthcare providers, it deeply concerns me that we have arrived at this point, but my staff are stretched extremely thinly, and we cannot continue to take-in new patients for the service without the appropriate resources in support.

“As part of this service, we have been assisting patients, often those who are elderly, to safely manage their medicines at home and in the community, reducing the need for patients to be transferred to other settings such as hospitals. It is worrying that by not commissioning this service, there could be additional and avoidable hospital pressures.

“We are continually approached by new patients and their families who want to avail of the medicines adherence service, and as healthcare providers we want to help. Without the support from the Department to do this, we have to protect core services until a solution can be found.

In response to an interview about medicine supplies on Good Morning Britain this morning, Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI said:

The vaccination dashboard records that 152,789 boosters have now been administered in Northern Ireland, with a further 12,703 third doses also provided.

“I am pleased to see the numbers climbing,” Health Minister Robin Swann stated. “I have been assured that to date more than half a million vaccine doses have now been ordered for the booster dose, with most of it already delivered.

“These vaccines have a short shelf life so we can expect to see the numbers growing rapidly on the dashboard in the coming weeks.

“The booster programme for eligible sections of the general public is being led by GPs and pharmacies, with health trusts vaccinating their staff with boosters as well as care home staff and residents. Community pharmacies are also delivering boosters for frontline staff not employed by Trusts.

“While the welcome increase in booster numbers reflects very hard work by a health system under severe pressure, I want to see the total climb further and faster.

“I have tasked officials with developing further initiatives to complement the current work. I am pleased to report that these are being finalised and should include a programme of walk-in and pop-up clinics – for booster doses, as well as vaccination opportunities for 12-17-year-olds, and for first and second doses generally. Further details of these initiatives will be made public shortly.”

The Head of Northern Ireland’s vaccination programme has urged people to come forward for their booster when their turn comes.

Speaking after receiving her own booster jab of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at Cooper’s Pharmacy in Belfast, Patricia Donnelly, said: “We are continuing to see high Covid infection rates so the booster programme is very important. Boosting the immune response after people have received their initial double vaccination course helps to sustain protection against Covid-19. Many people may receive a different vaccine from their 1st two doses and people can be reassured that this is both appropriate and safe.

“Thanks to GP, pharmacy and Trust teams who have now administered over 150,000 boosters since the roll out began a few weeks ago.” 

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene, said: “Over 240 community pharmacies across Northern Ireland are involved in the Booster programme and will be on hand to ensure that those eligible can access the vaccine in a convenient, accessible location.

“The booster vaccine is vital in our preparation against Covid-19 this winter – it will help protect not just the public, but the most vulnerable and our health service which is already under extreme pressure. Already we are seeing very strong demand with people wanting to get their Booster vaccine from community pharmacies across Northern Ireland and I would encourage those still eligible, to contact their local participating pharmacy and get the vaccine.”

Michael Cooper, Community Pharmacist, Cooper’s Pharmacy Belfast, said: “I would encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward to get their booster. It is very easy and accessible to get your booster at your local community pharmacy and it is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

Those who are eligible for a booster at least six months on from their second dose include:

• those living in care homes
• all adults aged 50 years or over
• frontline health and social care workers
• all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19
• adult carers (including foster carers) 
• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

More information is available on nidirect: www.nidirect.gov.uk/covidvaccine