Some GPs could stop offering flu vaccines as ‘not financially viable’ - BMA

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By Ella Pickover, PA Media and Erin Dean

Some GPs may not be able to offer flu vaccination clinics next winter as rising costs combined with "static" funding means it is not financially viable.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has written to England’s chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, to express concern that funding to GPs offering the service has "fallen significantly behind inflation".

The union’s GP committee for England pointed out that the payments for flu vaccination services were last uplifted in 2019-20.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said that some GP practices have already said that they do not intend to sign up for the flu programme next winter.

It warned that the issue is pressing because most flu jabs will need to be ordered soon.

“The consequences of the real term decline in funding for these programmes can be severe for both GP practices and patients,” wrote Dr Julius Parker, deputy chairman of the committee.