A pharmacy is starting to deliver lifesaving coronavirus jabs as the NHS accelerates the biggest vaccination programme in its history.

Cullimore Chemist in Edgware is among Boots, Superdrug and several independent stores in being the first of hundreds of community pharmacies offering Covid-19 vaccinations.

Hassan Khan, who owns Cullimore Chemist in Glengall Road, said his team of volunteers aim to deliver a minimum of 1,200 jabs a week.

Speaking about getting the vaccines, Mr Khan said: “I put myself forward and I promised that within five days I would deliver the historic vaccination programme. The NHS said that if you can deliver the numbers you promised we will give you the site.

“In five days, we changed our chemist to make it a super hub for vaccinations and we are still running our local pharmacy and post office business.

“We are doing a minimum of 1,200 jabs a week, the only issue we have is the supply of vaccine. Everything else we will deliver; we just cannot get enough vaccine. They are going quick. 

"We are asking for more vaccines."

Watford Observer:

Photo: PA

The vaccines are being delivered across three consultation rooms at the chemist, Mr Khan said, who has an army of over 100 volunteers helping deliver the vaccine.

Elsewhere, the other pharmacies starting to deliver the Covid vaccine include:

  • Boots, Halifax
  • Andrews Pharmacy, Macclesfield
  • Appleton Village Pharmacy, Widnes
  • Superdrug Pharmacy, Guildford
  • Cullimore Chemist, Edgware
  • Woodside Pharmacy, Telford

Stores capable of delivering large volumes while allowing for social distancing are initially being selected to give the best geographical spread.

Anyone in the highest risk groups who does not want to travel there or to a large-scale vaccination centre can wait to be called forward by their local GP or hospital services by 15 February. 

If that is the case, or if they have received the vaccination through another route since the invitation went out, they do not need to do anything.

Two hundred community pharmacies are due to come online over the next fortnight as more vaccine supplies come on stream by the end of the month.

Jabs are now being offered at more than 200 hospitals sites along with around 800 GP-led services, with another 200 GP-run sites coming online this week.

Dr Bruce Warner, Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer said: “The NHS coronavirus vaccination programme, the biggest in health service history, has got off to a great start with more than 2.4 million jabs delivered.

“Pharmacy teams have been working incredibly hard throughout the pandemic and, as we accelerate the vaccination programme, they are playing a vital role in delivering the life-saving jabs to those in their communities.

“We know that people are very keen to get the vaccine but we are appealing to people not to turn up early so that we can maintain social distancing.”