Numark chairman Harry McQuillan has warned the Scottish Government that its five-year vaccination and immunisation strategy will fail unless it supports and funds community pharmacies to play an integral role.

Mr McQuillan told Independent Community Pharmacist the success of the strategy, which is designed to ensure everyone in the country has access to vaccines, hinges on pharmacies being “fully integrated into the vaccination delivery model”.

He said that would only be achieved if the Government supports pharmacies with training, resources, digital support systems and funding.

“Notably, Scotland is the only country in the UK not fully utilising the accessibility and skills of the pharmacy network, especially now that pharmacy technicians are authorised to vaccinate,” Mr McQuillan said.

“This underutilisation is a missed opportunity that could greatly enhance our vaccination efforts.”

The Government said the strategy will improve vaccination uptake rates “across all age groups, in all communities” including those in deprived areas by bolstering the capacity of the health service’s multi-disciplinary vaccination workforce.

Community Pharmacy Scotland said it recognises the need for equitable access to vaccination.

“Community pharmacies are situated across Scotland, in urban and rural areas, close to where people live and work,” said the negotiator. “On this basis, inclusion of the community pharmacy network in the Immunisation and Vaccination Delivery Plan would help to support vaccination uptake as a valuable addition to the other routes through which vaccination will be provided.”

CPS strongly advises that community pharmacies in Scotland should be involved with the delivery of a Once for Scotland approach to vaccination and immunisation.  

Pharmacies "uniquely positioned" 

Mr McQuillan said people in “remote and underserved areas” of Scotland have struggled to access vaccines because of problems around the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.

He said pharmacies were “uniquely positioned to contribute to the success of the strategy” but insisted they needed “tangible support”. 

“The path to realising (the strategy’s) goals is fraught with challenges, particularly in the current climate. The strategy’s emphasis on strengthening the multidisciplinary vaccination workforce is timely, and we must be realistic about the barriers we face,” he said.

“The strategy calls for resources to be used flexibly to meet changing demands, but this requires not only financial investment but also a shift in how we value and support our healthcare workers.

“(Pharmacies) are on the front line, engaging with patients daily and often serving as the most accessible healthcare touchpoint, especially in rural and deprived areas.

“Yet, for the community pharmacy network to play its part effectively, we need more than just acknowledgment of its role – we need tangible support.”

The Government and Public Health Scotland said it will publish the final plan for the strategy at the end of September having held a six-week public consultation which closed last week.

Mr McQuillan, who said he responded to the consultation on behalf of Numark members, insisted the strategy could “reshape the health landscape for Scotland” if pharmacies are supported to help reduce health inequalities and ensure access to vaccines is widespread.

“(The) strategy is a bold and necessary step toward a healthier future. But the true measure of its success will lie in the details of its implementation,” he said.

“As we move forward, it is imperative we remain focused on the practicalities of delivery, ensuring that the goals set out in this strategy are not just aspirational but achievable.

“Community pharmacies, as trusted healthcare providers, stand ready to support this mission, but we will need the right tools and support to do so effectively. Together, we can ensure that this strategy not only meets its targets but also truly improves the health of every person in Scotland.”