Since January 2021, life-saving coronavirus jabs have been given at local community pharmacies across the South West – and today Locking Pharmacy in Weston-Super-Mare issued the 1 millionth community pharmacy vaccine in the South West to a nineteen year old young woman.

NHS England South West’s Regional Chief Pharmacist, Stephen Brown said: “I’m really proud of our community pharmacies’ efforts in the Covid-19 vaccination programme. These teams, and our wonderful volunteers, have done so much to protect our communities over the past eight months.

“Pharmacists are highly experienced in vaccinating people and we’re obviously delighted with the news that they’ve reached the astonishing number of 1 million vaccinations delivered in a pharmacy setting in the South West – what a fantastic achievement for our pharmacy teams to celebrate on World Pharmacist Day on the 25^th September.

“Bringing community pharmacy into the Covid vaccination programme has greatly enhanced access to the vaccine within local communities throughout the South West. Patients have had the option to receive their vaccine locally at a convenient location and from a health care professional that they often know and trust.

“The feedback we have been receiving is that patients really welcome the vaccine being available from pharmacies and that is an incredible endorsement for the service. I would like to thank our community pharmacy teams and volunteers for the rapid and professional way the service was rolled out, whilst still delivering day-to-day pharmacy services.

“We are now starting to roll out both the Covid Booster vaccine as well as seasonal flu jabs and our pharmacies are ideally placed to play an integral role in protecting our local populations from what promises to be a difficult winter period. Community pharmacists have displayed real flexibility and clinical skill in the efficient manner in which they have administered the vaccine so far, and I have no doubt they will continue to do so over the coming months.”

Community Pharmacist, Martin Taylor, Locking Pharmacy said:

“It has been a privilege to be able to vaccinate our own patients and the familiar faces that we see every day and helping to protect both them and their families from Covid. Since the roll-out began, patients have commented on how easy it has been to get their vaccine.

“It has meant we have been able to support our patients, who we know well, addressing any concerns they have, and delivering the upcoming booster vaccine ensures we can continue to provide this important level of care.”