Learning with CPPE: Providing vaccination services

In Learning

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

Contributing author: Karen Stone, learning development pharmacist, CPPE

Each year across the UK, millions of people receive vaccinations that protect them from severe illness and death. This is thanks in part to the efforts of pharmacy teams in helping achieve what NHS England calls “one of the most effective public health interventions in the modern era”.

Within this pharmacy team effort, where do pharmacy technicians fit? For the full picture, we need to rewind more than a decade, back to 2015.

Since then, England’s community pharmacies have been delivering NHS flu vaccinations. In 2021, Covid-19 vaccinations followed. Some pharmacies now also offer immunisation to those eligible against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (since 2024), childhood flu and pertussis (2025), and meningococcal B (2026).

Some pharmacies also deliver locally commissioned services and/or private vaccination services, including via travel clinics.

The role of pharmacy technicians has evolved alongside these changes.

Since June 2024, a shift in regulations has enabled pharmacy technicians in England, Scotland and Wales to supply and administer medicines under Patient Group Directions (PGDs).

This means they can help deliver vaccination services, provided they are named, authorised, trained and are competent to practice under the relevant PGD.

Even more recently, in April 2026, Vaccination Group Directions (VGDs) entered legislation. Under a VGD, the registered pharmacist or pharmacy technician operates as the clinician in a similar way to a PGD, but the VGD allows for some tasks within the vaccination process (e.g. preparation, administration and record keeping) to be delegated to other suitably trained healthcare staff.

With the autumn/winter 2026/27 seasonal vaccination service campaign set to launch on 1 September, now is an ideal time for pharmacy technicians to prepare themselves to support this national public health agenda. 

That means becoming familiar with the relevant legal mechanisms, undertaking the necessary training and demonstrating competence. This is where CPPE can assist.

Conclusion

By developing your practice in vaccination, you can play an active part in protecting the health of individuals and communities. Whether by building your knowledge of PGDs, strengthening your consultation skills or preparing to deliver safe, effective, person-centred vaccination services, CPPE learning can help you on your journey towards adopting and embedding your clinical role as a pharmacy technician.