- The National Flu Immunisation Programme Plan 2025–2026 confirms no changes to eligible cohorts compared to 2024/25: children aged 2 and 3 years (as of 31 August 2025), school‑aged children, certain clinical‑risk groups, pregnant women, older adults, and carers are eligible (GOV.UK).
- A pilot one‑season Advanced Service allows community pharmacies to deliver Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray to all children aged 2 and 3 from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 (Community Pharmacy England).
- Pharmacy owners must opt in via the NHSBSA MYS portal between 1–31 August 2025 to access centrally supplied LAIV stock in time for service commencement. Late sign‑ups may delay supply (Community Pharmacy England).
- Pharmacies are reimbursed £9.58 per administered vaccine, funded outside the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (Community Pharmacy England).
✅ Compliance with the National Minimum Standards & Core Curriculum
Delivering LAIV to 2‑3‑year‑olds requires pharmacists to follow both the Advanced Service Specification and the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training:
1. Meeting Professional Training Standards
Pharmacy vaccinators must have completed training that satisfies all elements of the Standards:
- Delivered through e‑learning and face‑to‑face practical training (including nasal spray technique, BLS, and anaphylaxis management).
- Recognised Declaration of Competence (DoC) or equivalent NHS/UKHSA assessment tool specific to childhood immunisation (NHS England, The Pharmaceutical Journal).
2. Service‑Specific Competence
Vaccinators must be competent in:
- Assessing eligibility for children aged 2 and 3 per the programme criteria.
- Gaining informed consent from parent/guardian and accurately recording it (name, relationship, etc.).
- Administering LAIV nasal spray, handling cold chain, clinical waste, and being aware of LAIV contraindications and immunobiology as per Green Book (Chapter 19) (Community Pharmacy England, NHS England).
- Managing adverse events including anaphylaxis and following UKHSA “Vaccine Incident Guidance” (NHS England).
- Understanding PGD or national protocol, proper co‑administration guidance, and correct vaccine product selection (NHS England).
3. Supervised Practice & Competency Logging
- Use a competency checklist, potentially Appendix A of the training standards, to document supervised practice.
- Sign‑off must cover all elements of the LAIV service—including consent, clinical governance, administration, and record‑keeping.
- Annual or bi‑annual refresh of DoC, especially if expanding into this new cohort.
👩⚕️ Practical Planning for Pharmacy Teams
Step‑by‑Step Readiness
- Audit existing vaccinators: check who holds the relevant DoC and whether they’ve been assessed for LAIV in 2–3‑year‑olds.
- Train new vaccinators: in line with Immunisation Training Standards – Immunisation & Vaccination Courses
- Coordinate supervised sessions: ensure each vaccinator has practical sign‑off under supervision.
- Prepare SOPs aligned to the service specification: include cold chain protocols, incident escalation, consent and consent record retention, safeguarding procedures, off‑site vaccination governance, and how consent and outcome is shared.
- Ensure suitable premises: consultation room meeting NHS service regulations; if vaccinating off‑site, follow governance protocols under the specification (NHS England, The Pharmaceutical Journal).
Service Delivery Targets & Logistics
- Order LAIV centrally via ImmForm or manufacturer-distribution process after registering by 31 August 2025 (NHS England).
- Pharmacies must administer at least 10 doses between October 2025 and January 2026, or risk suspension of supply (wastage must be under ~30%) (NHS England).
- Target administering most doses by 30 November 2025 to align with immune response timing and peak season (NHS England).
Record-Keeping & Data Governance
- Record every vaccination using an NHS‑assured Point of Care system, entering details on the same day (or ASAP if system unavailable) (NHS England).
- Maintain records for at least 3 years, including consent details, vaccine batch, patient identifier, eligibility confirmation, and separate DoC/training logs.
- Share vaccination data with GP and NHS bodies for programme monitoring and reimbursement; obtain consent for data sharing up front (NHS England).
🧭 Summary Checklist
| Domain | Requirement |
| Eligibility | Children aged 2–3 years on 31 August 2025 |
| Registration | Opt in by 31 August via MYS portal |
| Training | Standards‐compliant training + LAIV childhood competence |
| Supervision | Competency checklist sign‑off and DoC specific to service |
| Administration | LAIV nasal spray per Green Book, consent, co‑admin rules |
| Targets | ≥10 doses between Oct–Jan, minimize wastage, aim by 30 Nov |
| Governance | SOP, consultation room or off‑site governance, cold chain |
| Record‑keeping | NHS PoC system, daily entries, 3‑year storage, consent & DoC logs |
| Incident management | Follow UKHSA vaccine incident guidance; report Yellow Card events |
| Data sharing | With GP, NHS bodies under informed consent |
In Summary
The 2025/26 flu season brings a pivotal opportunity for community pharmacies to vaccinate 2‑ and 3‑year‑olds as part of a nationally commissioned pilot. To ensure safe, effective, and legally compliant delivery, pharmacists must align closely with both the Advanced service specification and the National Minimum Standards for Immunisation Training.
Proper training, competency documentation, robust SOPs, accurate record‑keeping, and strong governance underpin safe delivery—helping pharmacy teams support public health objectives while safeguarding children and families.
If you or your staff require foundation or annual immunisation update training in line with National Minimum Standards for Immunisation Training, please book online for the appropriate course. If you require any support please email Hannah – hannah.taylor@immunisationsuk.co.uk.