September 8th 2025
By Ailsa Colquhoun
DHSC seeks views on flu and COVID vaccination supply
A consultation has been launched to support the ongoing supply and deployment of vaccinations across the UK
The proposal to amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 focuses on six regulations within the HMRs, the current remit of which is summarised below:
- regulation 3A (R3A) enables trained healthcare professionals or staff under the supervision of trained healthcare professionals to conduct the final stage of assembly, preparation and labelling of COVID-19 vaccines without additional marketing authorisations or manufacturer’s licences being required
- regulation 19 (4A) to (4D) (R19) allows COVID-19 and influenza vaccines to be moved between different NHS service providers at the end of the supply chain by providers operating under NHS arrangements or the medical services of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, without the need for a wholesale dealer’s licence
- regulation 247A (R247A) enables the use of an extended workforce who are legally and safely able to administer COVID-19 or influenza vaccines without the input of a prescriber, using an approved protocol
- regulation 233 (8) (R233) enables persons lawfully conducting a retail pharmacy business, to deliver COVID-19 and influenza vaccination services off the registered premises under a patient group direction (PGD)
- regulation 3 enables doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives to be able to prepare or assemble medicines for a patient in the course of their treatment without a manufacturers’ licence
- schedule 17 (S17) enables occupational health vaccinators who are permitted, as part of an occupational health scheme (OHS) under the written directions of a doctor, to administer COVID-19 and influenza vaccines as part of an NHS or local authority OHS
The aim of the amendments are to increase access to vaccines, improve system effectiveness and end temporary COVID pandemic-related provisions.
The consultation is open for 12 weeks and will close at 11:59pm on 28 November 2025. Take the survey
