The Government has decided to extend state-backed clinical negligence indemnity for pharmacies providing Covid-19 jabs until June 30, rather than the end of March as originally planned. 

The extension was made because of the Government’s “decision to extend the period between vaccine doses,” Covid vaccine deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi said yesterday (January 18) in a written statement.

Mr Zahawi said the Government had decided to offer pharmacies state indemnity because the commercial insurance market “would not be able to comprehensively provide cover for this risk at such short notice”.

“Without adequate indemnity cover, pharmacies would be unable to commit to the programme. Their participation is crucial as they have been selected to fill geographical gaps in cover or where NHS capacity is such that they are unable to participate,” said Mr Zahawi.

He explained that any claims of clinical negligence arising from the provision of Covid19 vaccines will be managed through NHS Resolutions in line with existing state indemnity schemes.

“The provision of such an indemnity enables pharmacy contractors to start to run services, while the DHSC and NHSE&I continue to work with the community pharmacy sector on a longer-term approach to insuring community pharmacy for COvid-19 vaccinations.”

Contractors providing Covid-19 vaccination services under Local Enhanced Service (LES) agreements receive a letter detailing their indemnity cover, which is provided subject to compliance with the terms of the LES agreement and the terms of the indemnity arrangements.