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As flu cases surge rapidly, NHS England is urging eligible individuals to get vaccinated by visiting a pharmacy that offers the flu vaccine. Latest NHS data shows flu cases in hospitals have quadrupled in just one month, with over 5,000 patients hospitalised with the virus at the end of last week, up from 1,190 on November 29. During the week ending December 29, there were an average of 4,469 flu patients in hospitals each day, nearly 3.5 times higher than the same week last year, including 211 in critical care daily. On Christmas Day, there were 4,102 flu patients in hospitals, and the number surged by nearly a quarter to 5,074 by Sunday, December 29. In addition to the flu, hospitals are facing ongoing pressure from Covid, RSV, and norovirus.

A novel bioinformatics approach can predict vaccine effectiveness for the influenza season, and indicates that the current vaccines are likely to be effective against H3N2 flu viruses in the U.S. 2017/2018 flu season, according to research published online Nov. 29 in F1000 Research. Slobodan Paessler, D.V.M., Ph.D., from the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Veljko Veljkovic, Ph.D., from Biomed Protection, both in Galveston, Texas, used a bioinformatics platform to predict vaccine effectiveness for the 2017/2018 influenza season in the United States. The hemagglutinin HA1 region of 251 and 113 human H3N2 viruses collected in Australia and the United States from July to September 2017 were analyzed. The informational spectrum method-based phylogenetic analysis of H3N2 viruses was performed to serve as a base for predicting vaccine effectiveness. The researchers found that analyses of Australian viruses generated two clusters; the vaccine virus was placed in the smaller group. As a result, the vaccine was predicted not to be efficient against most Australian H3N2 viruses in the 2017 flu season; low vaccine effectiveness was reported in Australia in the 2017 flu season in accordance with this prediction. The U.S. H3N2 viruses were also grouped into two clusters, but the vaccine virus was placed in the largest cluster encompassing 71 percent of analyzed viruses. Consequently, the vaccine effectiveness is expected not to be suboptimal in the United States.

The government has accepted the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's (JCVI) advice for the autumn 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme. According to the JCVI, the following groups will be eligible for vaccination this autumn: Individuals aged 65 and over Residents of care homes for older adults Those aged 6 months and older in clinical risk groups Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, emphasised the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from COVID-19 and reducing pressure on the NHS. He said: "We are committed to protecting those most vulnerable from COVID and have accepted the independent advice from the JCVI for the autumn 2024 vaccination programme." "I encourage anyone invited for a vaccine to get one as soon as possible to protect yourself and reduce pressure on the NHS during winter, helping to cut waiting times and get the health service back on its feet."

Provision of free lateral flow tests could end in the UK, and prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to make the big announcement within weeks, The Sunday Times has reported. The report said that in future free test kits could be provided only in high-risk settings such as care homes, hospitals and schools, and to people with symptoms, and contact tracing by NHS Test and Trace is also expected to be scaled back. The newspaper quoted a senior Whitehall source as saying: "I don't think we are in a world where we can continue to hand out free lateral flow tests to everybody. "It's likely we will move to a scenario where there is less testing, but we have a capacity to ramp it up if necessary." It added that more than £6 billion of public money has already been spent on mass testing. Separately, Dr Clive Dix, former chairman of the country's vaccine task force said that Covid-19 should now be treated as a flu, and mass vaccination campaigns should end after the booster shots in the UK.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) presented key evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on 10 September, underscoring the vital role of pharmacists and pharmacy teams during the pandemic. Deirdre Domingo, legal representative for the RPS, delivered the statement during the Module 3 public hearings, which focus on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems across the UK. As the professional body representing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in Great Britain, the RPS urged the Inquiry to consider several critical issues: Recognition of pharmacists as key workers The RPS highlighted the crucial role pharmacy teams played in ensuring continued access to essential medicines and their integral involvement in the roll-out of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. However, the Society also raised concerns over significant failures and challenges, such as inadequate safety measures to protect pharmacists at work, confusing national guidance, increased hostility towards healthcare professionals, and a disparity in the treatment of community pharmacy compared to NHS staff.

As the pharmacy profession continues to evolve, the role of Accredited Checking Technicians (ACTs) is becoming increasingly vital. Anne Ausden, the Deputy Manager of Jephsons Pharmacy, embodies this shift. With over 18 months in her current role, Anne oversees the pharmacy's daily operations, optimises medication use, and ensures high-quality patient care. Her work extends beyond the dispensary, offering blood tests, blood pressure monitoring, flu vaccines, and health education sessions. Anne, a 2023 Pharmacy Business Awards winner, shares her insights on the expanding role of ACTs with Pharmacy Business reporter Rudra Mulmule, particularly in light of recent legislative changes that allow pharmacy technicians to now administer medicines under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) and with the introduction of the Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) programme.

The government has announced a £100 million public-private investment to establish 20 new commercial research delivery centres (CRDCs) across the UK, aimed at increasing access to innovative treatments and clinical trials in underserved communities. These centres will be set up in all four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, acting as regional hubs for pioneering clinical trials. These trials will span various conditions, including cancer, obesity, and infectious diseases like flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The hubs will facilitate the swift launch of commercial studies, ensuring that patients can access experimental treatments as soon as possible. Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron hailed the investment as "a powerful vote of confidence in the UK's leading research and life sciences sector." She noted that the new hubs will shift research into smaller communities, allowing more people to access cutting-edge treatments faster.

NPA Insurance, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), has updated its professional indemnity policy for locum pharmacists to better support their expanding roles in healthcare. The enhanced policy now includes private and NHS prescribing cover for weight loss and other areas of competence, which is available for locums working in pharmacy, general practice and hospital settings. Policyholders will benefit from an extended range of cover, which includes, as standard, the delivery of the NHS Pharmacy First service, the expanded pharmacy contraception service, and the re-launched hypertension case-finding service. Moreover, NPA Insurance has removed charges for vaccine administration, including COVID-19, flu, and travel. Locum pharmacists will also have access to NPA Insurance's award-winning claims team as part of the new policy.