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Community pharmacies in England administered over 4 million flu vaccines in the 2024/25 winter flu season, the highest number of outside of the pandemic, analysis from the Company Chemists’ Association has found.

The number of flu vaccines administered by community pharmacy has shown a clear growth trend since national commissioning began in 2015, it says.

There was nearly a 10 per cent growth in the number of flu vaccines administered over last winter compared to 2023/24, with 9,291 pharmacies participated in the  vaccination programme.

Overall, the average participating pharmacy administered over 400 vaccines, with 938 pharmacies that administering more than 1,000 vaccines in the single season.

During the 2024/25 winter flu season, more vaccines were administered in the most deprived communities, in line with previous years.

A previous CCA analysis showed more than half of all Covid vaccinations delivered to Black/Black British, Asian/Asian British and mixed ethnicity groups were delivered in community pharmacies, backing up claims that pharmacies provide accessible care to patients in underserved communities.

CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: “Vaccines are one of the most effective tools in our armoury to prevent ill-health. Pharmacies have proven time and time again that they can boost the uptake of vaccinations, especially amongst underserved communities.

"The recent regional commissioning of pharmacies to deliver RSV and pertussis vaccines shows that health systems are beginning to take advantage of the opportunity. But with growing demand on NHS services and variability in uptake there is a need to move faster and further. Commissioning all adult vaccines from community pharmacy is the logical next step.”