The UK government announced on 31 January 2022 that it will not proceed with requiring vaccination as a condition of deployment for health and care staff providing CQC-regulated activities in England. The governments in Scotland and Wales have not indicated any plans to make vaccination a condition of deployment for health and care staff.
Following the Secretary of State’s announcement, we have reiterated our position on COVID-19 vaccination for pharmacy professionals in Great Britain.
GPhC position on COVID-19 vaccination for pharmacy professionals
This statement outlines the General Pharmaceutical Council’s position on pharmacy professionals being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in all settings across Great Britain should be vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they are medically exempt.
As professional and community leaders, pharmacy professionals also demonstrate leadership by encouraging other members of their team, as well as patients and the public, to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The GPhC strongly urges any pharmacy professionals and pharmacy students and trainees who have not yet been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised the use of COVID-19 vaccines in the UK following a rigorous review of their safety, quality and efficacy. The clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines have shown them to be effective and acceptably safe.
Getting vaccinated is an important way in which pharmacy professionals can support and maintain public health. Vaccination against COVID-19 protects the individual, their family, and colleagues, as well as patients and the public.
This is particularly important with pharmacy professionals continuing to play such a vital role in delivering the COVID-19 vaccination programme.