News » England, Pharmacy Owners' News, Political News » NHSE did not consider dispensing GPs in meningitis vaccination programme
July 21st 2026
NHS England has admitted that dispensing doctors were not considered as a specific group for delivery of the one-off Meningitis B vaccination program commissioned exclusively from community pharmacies.
The admission comes as a new survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 56 per cent of pharmacies had seen a surge in bookings since the vaccination booking system opened ahead of the service launch yesterday (July 20).
In response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the DDA asking to see the health impact equality assessment supporting the service, NHSE said: “Consideration was given to a GP delivery model in the round. Dispensing doctors were not considered as a specific group for delivery.”
However, it adds that “NHS England is developing an Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (EHIA) to support regions in mitigating any potential inequalities. It pledges that NHS England will consider supplementary offers in areas with poor community pharmacy provision or coverage.
Recent research from Community Pharmacy England reveals that over two in five pharmacies (42%) have reduced opening hours, or have stopped providing services such as vaccinations and Pharmacy First due to financial pressures.
Despite this, the NHSE FoI Act response asserts that the community pharmacy model was chosen “as individuals in the eligible cohort usually move around between home and where they study. Offering the vaccine through participating community pharmacies provides flexibility to get the vaccine in a range of locations across the country.”
It adds that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) had due regard to its duties under the Public Sector Equality Duty
In response to communication from the DDA, Shadow Health Minister Dr Luke Evans MP (Hinckley and Bosworth) (pictured) said: “As you rightly point out, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services is important, and healthcare policies should be designed with the practical realities of rural areas in mind.
“Dispensing practices often play a vital role in providing accessible healthcare to patients who have limited alternative local provision.”
In the letter to the shadow health minister, DDA CEO Matthew Isom said: “In remote, rural and coastal communities … the most logical place to go would be their local dispensing practice. Instead, students will be expected to travel some distance, often where there is no decent public transport, to receive their vaccinations. It seems that this policy, as with most health policy, has not been ‘rural proofed.’
“NHS vaccination policy seems to be moving towards centralised procurement and away from GP practices. We believe this to be a mistake that will see lower take-up rates and lead to poorer public health outcomes.”
The NHS online booking system for the community pharmacy service is only available to those in Year 13 (born between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008). Other eligible patients due to start university or residential further education for the first time in Autumn 2026 cannot book on the NHS system and need to walk-in or contact their pharmacy directly instead.
