This letter from Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England, sets out the principles and expectations necessary to maintain the integrity, and therefore safety, quality and effectiveness, of COVID-19 vaccines. It complements the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Standards for Registered Pharmacies and Standards for Pharmacy Professionals, which must be complied with at all times.

This agreement document sets out how we will commission a COVID-19 vaccination service directly from community pharmacy. It will be commissioned where there is a local need, for example a gap in service provision or need for additional capacity, and where pharmacy contractors can meet the key designation requirements. The service will be provided as a local enhanced service (LES), commissioned by regional teams in consultation with local pharmaceutical committees.