Pharmacies facing angry patients over Covid jab confusion

Pharmacists in England say they are faced with “major problems” with a large number of patients who reserve appointments for punches to find that they are no longer eligible.

The criteria have been tightened this year, so that only 75 years and over are offered free boosters, as well as younger patients who have a weakened immune system.

Between a third and a half of people who arise at their appointment must be turned back on many sites, according to Community Pharmacy England (CPE), which represents more than 10,000 chemists, including many major chains.

He described the situation as “unacceptable” with relationships of angry and frustrated patients and abuses aimed at staff.

The director of the NHS Services CPE Alastair Buxton, said that he had become clear at the time of the time of the NHS website reservation system last week that there was a problem.

He said that many people seemed to miss information on eligibility for the reservation system and by hypothesizing that they were still eligible.

But when they show up for their vaccinations, pharmacies can only give them the flu.

“It obviously takes a lot of explaining to patients. This causes upheavals, concerns and perhaps anger for certain patients.

“We have certainly had examples of certain patients being abusive with the members of the pharmacy team.”

Henry Gregg, head of the National Pharmacy Association, who represents independent pharmacists, said that the question was raised to the NHS England and the government.

“It should have been avoidable and it is deeply frustrating for pharmacies and patients. We urge any patient in this situation to treat pharmacy teams with respect, because pharmacies try to manage the new clinical criteria of the NHS.”

Pharmacists said that more should have been made to raise awareness of changes – given the flu and hairstyle vaccination programs largely surfed last year.

In response to the problems, NHS England said that the website label had been modified to make it clearer than the eligibility criteria had been tightened.

A spokesperson added: “Please check that you are always eligible to receive a cocovated vaccine before booking – the NHS website defines whether your age, your state of health or your medication means that you are eligible, and your general practitioner or your pharmacist will confirm it before giving you the vaccine.”

Paul Williamson, 71, from Doncaster, is one of those who have just discovered that he is no longer eligible for the cocovid booster.

He realized that when he connected to the booking site and said to your voice, your news from the BBC that it was shocked to discover that the criteria had changed.

“I am disappointed. It looks like a cost reduction exercise.”

As an elderly person, he said he would do everything possible to protect himself and therefore plan to pay for this in private.

Covid vaccines are available in private in High Street Street pharmacists and cost around £ 100 per person.

The modifications made to eligibility were made to the advice of a group of independent experts called the Mixed Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).

He recommended that eligibility for the Covid autumn booster be modified compared to 2025.

Last year, the JAB was offered free of charge at anyone 65 years and over and those who have a long list of chronic or long -term conditions.

This has now been changed with the age limit noted to all those who are 75 years old before March 2026, as well as residents of care for the elderly and people classified as immunocompromised.

This includes those who undergo patients with cancer treatment and transplantation, as well as those who live with HIV and certain genetic disorders.

But that means that many people with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory illnes, asthma and serious mental illness will no longer be eligible.

In addition, pregnant women and front -line health and social care workers will not be offered the fall JAB this fall for free.

The JCVI said that Covid was now a “relatively light disease for most people”, hospitalization and death rates that “reduced considerably”.

He said that focusing on the oldest adults and individuals whose immune system is compromised, because the two groups continue to be more at risk, were based on “a standard profitability assessment, in accordance with other routine vaccinations”.