Gerard Greene, the chief executive of Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland, has said he expects to see an increase in the number of pharmacies in the country delivering the Moderna Covid vaccine over the next few weeks.

Some 350 pharmacies have been administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 40 or over since the community pharmacy vaccination programme started in March. Now the government is looking to accelerate the scheme. 

Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) said “a small number” of pharmacies are providing Moderna vaccinations “with new pharmacies being added each week". The Moderna vaccine is being delivered to people aged 18 and over.

Mr Greene was recently quoted in the Derry Journal as saying: “In the coming weeks we will see a further uplift of pharmacies providing the Moderna vaccine which will expand the options available for those who remain unvaccinated.”

Independent Community Pharmacist asked HSCNI how many pharmacies are currently providing the Moderna vaccine and how many more will do so in the coming weeks but has not yet received a response. 

Over 135,000 Covid vaccines in total have been delivered in pharmacies since the start of the vaccination programme five months ago.