COVID-19 vaccine eligibility creates challenges for UK pharmacies
Charlie Blackie-Kelly | October 8, 2025 | News story | Medical Communications | COVID-19, NHS, pharmacies, vaccinations
Pharmacists across England have reported widespread confusion among patients attempting to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments despite no longer meeting the eligibility criteria – with some sites turning away as many as half of those who arrive.
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) – the representative body for more than 10,000 independent and multiple pharmacies – said members had raised “major issues” with large numbers of ineligible patients booking appointments through the National Booking System (NBS).
Last year, adults aged over 65 and individuals with chronic or long-term health conditions were eligible for a free COVID-19 booster. Eligibility has since been narrowed to residents of care homes, people aged 75 and over, and those who are immunosuppressed. This includes patients receiving cancer treatment or organ transplants, as well as individuals living with HIV or certain genetic disorders.
Conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory illness no longer qualify, nor do pregnant women or front-line health and social care workers.
The revised criteria follow recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which described COVID-19 as “an endemic disease” and advised that vaccination programmes should “move towards standard assessment of cost-effectiveness”.
CPE and other pharmacy bodies have said the policy change has caused significant confusion, with many patients assuming that previous eligibility still applies. Pharmacies have also reported instances of ineligible patients being referred by staff at general practices.
“This should have been avoidable and it is deeply frustrating for both pharmacies and patients,” commented Henry Gregg, head of the National Pharmacy Association. “We urge any patient in this situation to treat pharmacy teams with respect as pharmacies try and manage the new NHS clinical criteria.”
In response to the concerns, the NHS has updated the eligibility wording on the NBS to provide clearer guidance and has been in ongoing communication with pharmacy bodies to address the issue, according to CPE.
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