Recommendation 21

The NHSE&I concluded that it was not possible to deliver both the COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccinations solely through existing arrangements such as GP practices and community pharmacies. In response, it developed three new delivery models to take account of different groups and different regional needs. Each region must choose the delivery models that best suit local conditions.60 We asked NHSE&I what oversight it had of local decision making about the programme and how it was taking into account the different proportions of priority groups in local areas.61 NHSE&I recognised that it would be unfair for one part of the country to run significantly ahead of others and that it was conscious of the trade-off between ensuring complete equity in the supply and availability of vaccines and in ensuring as many people were vaccinated as quickly as possible. It explained it was working to ensure that all Primary Care Networks (PCNs) were able to vaccinate those over 80 and care home residents. Where PCNs had been able to successfully vaccinate all those over 80 in their area, it had so far redistributed vaccines to those PCNs who had a larger group of people over 80 to vaccination and who still needed doses. It confirmed, however, that “as soon as we are at reasonable coverage”, it expected to be able to talk to the Chief Medical Officers about pushing out as many vaccines as possible.62