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There have been “major issues” in the past several days as “large numbers” of patients book Covid-19 vaccinations on the national booking system (NBS) despite not being eligible for a free vaccine this year, Community Pharmacy England has warned. 

The negotiator said some pharmacy owners have reported that “up to a third” of the bookings they have received are from patients who do not meet this year’s eligibility criteria, while some pharmacies are getting ineligible patients referred to them by GP surgery staff.  

CPE attributed much of this chaos to confusion over changes to the rules this year, with patients aged 64-74 no longer eligible for NHS-funded Covid-19 vaccinations.  

“Many of those aged under 75 years who were eligible for vaccination last winter seem to have assumed that they are still eligible and have booked appointments at pharmacies via NBS, despite the wording on the booking system relating to eligibility,” said CPE.  

It said the confusion is “inevitably resulting in time spent explaining the situation to patients” and that some members of the public have been “angry” or “abusive” towards pharmacy staff. 

CPE said it was “working with NHS England to try to address this unacceptable situation” and improve public-facing communications explaining the eligibility criteria that are in place this year.  

Key asks from the negotiator include sending messages to those who have made a booking on the NBS to highlight the changes in eligibility and providing pharmacies with NHS-branded communications materials to help pharmacies explain the changes to patients, as well as reminders to GP teams around who they may or may not refer to pharmacies. 

National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg said: "We are aware of reports from across the country of patients who are not eligible on the NHS for this year's Covid vaccine arriving at pharmacies, having been able to book an appointment via the online system. 

"This should have been avoidable and it is deeply frustrating for both pharmacies and patients. We urge any patient in this situation to treat pharmacy teams with respect as pharmacies try and manage the new NHS clinical criteria. 

"We've urgently raised this issue with NHS England and the Department of Health and have asked for it be resolved as soon as possible."