If you’re not running a vaccine clinic, read this. 💉

It surprised me too.

In a recent conversation with a CEO of a pharmacy group, we reviewed internal data that showed something a little hard to believe—50% of pharmacies still aren’t running vaccine clinics. 

In 2025, with everything we know about public health, accessibility, and the expanding scope of pharmacy services, this is a missed opportunity.

For the business. For the profession. And for our patients.

The case for vaccine clinics is stronger than ever

Pharmacists have become one of the most trusted healthcare professionals in the community.

We're local, we're accessible, and we're often the first point of contact for healthcare advice.

Running a vaccine clinic isn’t just an additional service—it’s an essential one.

Here’s what pharmacies with active vaccine clinics are seeing:

• Better patient outcomes – fewer missed vaccinations, quicker access to care, and more trust in your pharmacy.

• New revenue streams – offering flu, COVID, whooping cough, travel vaccines and more adds thousands in annual income potential.

• A stronger community presence – vaccine clinics attract foot traffic and position your pharmacy as a healthcare hub, not just a dispensary.

So what’s stopping us?

When I sat down to think about why so many pharmacies aren’t running vaccine clinics, it wasn’t just about logistics.

It’s deeper than that.

Here are some of the common barriers we’ve observed:

1. Fear of clinical procedures

Some pharmacists may not feel confident giving injections, especially if they’ve had limited hands-on experience.

Training exists—but for some, the idea of delivering a jab is intimidating.

2. Lack of training or currency

Many pharmacists completed the initial vaccination course years ago but haven’t stayed up to date with refresher modules or new guidelines.

Others never took the plunge in the first place.

3. Religious or ethical concerns

This is rare but real.

In small or rural communities, both pharmacists and patients may hesitate based on religious or cultural beliefs.

It's important to navigate these respectfully while still offering options for those who want and need vaccines.

4. Workflow concerns

Some owners worry about disrupting dispensary flow or staffing for a consult room.

But in reality, many pharmacies who adopt vaccine clinics find they improve efficiency, not hinder it—especially with proper scheduling and software tools.

5. "Too hard basket" syndrome

We get it.

Paperwork, consent forms, cold chain storage, training, tech integration—it sounds like a lot.

But this is where having a consistent, repeatable system across the group changes the game.

So what’s next?

The real question isn’t can your pharmacy run a vaccine clinic.

It’s: What support do you need to make it happen?

We’re exploring ways to roll out a consistent suite of services across the group—including templates, training, and setup assistance—so every pharmacy can offer vaccines confidently and consistently.

1. Fear of clinical procedures

The pain point:
Some pharmacists worry they’ll “mess up the injection,” or don’t feel confident managing patient reactions or needle anxiety.

The solution:
✅ Hands-on refresher training through pharmacy networks or local health providers can rebuild that confidence.
✅ Shadow a colleague who vaccinates regularly—seeing someone else do it can quickly remove the fear factor.
✅ Start with flu season—it’s high demand, low complexity, and ideal for building comfort.

2. Lack of training or currency

The pain point:
Many pharmacists were trained years ago, and haven’t kept up with new requirements. Others don’t know where to begin.

The solution:
✅ Enrol in a recognised immunisation course—many are now hybrid or fully online.
✅ Check with your state board or PSA/Guild for current scope and continuing requirements.
✅ Build this into your pharmacy’s CPD calendar—don’t leave it to chance.

3. Religious or ethical concerns

The pain point:
In some cases, pharmacists or their communities may feel uneasy offering vaccines due to cultural or religious beliefs.

The solution:
✅ Respect individual beliefs, but still enable patient access by having trained team members on staff who can provide the service.
✅ Create neutral, fact-based signage and scripts that inform without pressuring.
✅ Offer clear opt-outs for team members, but ensure someone can administer vaccines on site.

It’s not about forcing participation—it’s about ensuring the option is there for those who need it.

4. Workflow concerns

The pain point:
“I don’t have time, staff, or space.”

This is a common blocker, especially in busy dispensaries or smaller stores.

The solution:
✅ Use appointment-based booking systems to control patient flow.
✅ Train pharmacy assistants or techs to support consent forms, data entry, and patient comms.
✅ Convert a consult room or even a screened-off corner—many clinics operate efficiently in compact spaces.

A consistent clinic structure and scheduling routine turns chaos into calm. We can help you build one.

5. "Too hard basket" syndrome

The pain point:
Cold chain compliance, storage, reporting, software—too many moving parts can overwhelm a pharmacist who’s already doing it all.

The solution:
✅ Leverage group support: centralised SOPs, templates, tech setups, and vaccine supplier agreements can cut setup time drastically.
✅ Start small—offer flu vaccines one morning per week and scale up once systems are flowing.
✅ Let us help: we’re developing a standardised vaccine clinic toolkit that can be rolled out group-wide.

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel—we’ve already built the basics.

You just need to take the first step.

The bottom line?

Running a vaccine clinic is no longer optional—it’s a must-have.
For patients. For business. For the future of the profession.

If you’re already vaccinating, amazing—keep scaling.
If you’re not, now’s the time to get support.

📩 Reply to this email or speak to your manager if you’d like help setting up your clinic.

Let’s turn 50% coverage into 100%.

We’re here to back you.