The number of independent pharmacies offering private Covid jabs is set to quadruple by the autumn as the unexpected summer wave causes vaccine demand to soar. At the moment, people can get jabs privately through 244 independent pharmacies throughout the UK, which all operate through the Pharmadoctor programme . But that number is expected to jump to more around 1,000 in the next three months or so, as the scheme gathers momentum amid rising demand, Pharmadoctor chief executive Graham Thoms told i .
The increased provision among independent pharmacies comes a day after Boots, the only national chain offering private jabs, expanded the number of branches participating , from 50 to 80 – taking in Scotland and Wales for the first time. The chain broadened its private jab offering after sales of Covid test kits almost tripled in June compared to the same period in 2023. At the same time, Boots’ sales of medicines that relieve symptoms of coughs, colds, flu, and Covid were also up by 32 per cent in June compared to a year earlier and more than quadrupled for the week commencing 23 June compared to the same week in 2023.
Mr Thoms told i that demand had gone from being “really high” in June to “huge” in the first few days of this month after the option of a free spring booster for over-75s and immunocompromised people ended on Sunday. Read Next 'I've been ill for weeks with Covid - the summer wave needs to be taken seriously' “I’ve been really surprised by the level .
