The LLR ICB Immunisation team have developed a FAQ to support practices around the 2026/27 COVID 19 & Flu Vaccination Service. As we prepare for the 2026/27 combined COVID‑19 and Adult Influenza Vaccination Service, we want to ensure all practices have clear, timely information about the changes to the NHSE delivery model this year. Below you will find a practice‑facing FAQ outlining what has changed, what is required, and what you need to do next. If you have a query that is not answered below, or require further clarification, please contact: llr.vaccopcentre@nhs.net
If your practice intends to deliver vaccinations in 2026/27, please ensure that you review this information carefully – particularly around opt‑in requirements, ordering responsibilities, and the new supply model.
Practice FAQ – 2026/27 COVID‑19 & Flu Vaccination Service
1. Do we need to opt in to deliver COVID‑19 vaccinations in 2026/27?
- Yes. But you need to sign up at practice level (PCNs cannot opt-in). COVID‑19 vaccinations now form part of the unified COVID‑19 and Adult Influenza Vaccination Service. Individual GP practices must opt in by 2 February 2026 to deliver COVID vaccines at any point during 2026/27. Practices can opt in after this deadline, however vaccine delivery cannot be guaranteed for the start of the Spring campaign. Please refer to table below for opt-in options and deadline dates. Practices who are opting-in, must do so via CQRS (you will have already received the CQRS link via a separate email) and also complete the webform. Practices can still collaborate within the PCN under the network DES, but the contract, supply, and accountability all sit at practice level.
- Any COVID delivery gaps created by practices choosing flu-only opt-in will have to be covered by the ICB Vaccination Team.
| Campaign Choice | Deadline for sign-up on CQRS | Vaccination campaign dates |
| COVID-19 campaign – Spring 2026 | 2nd February 2026 | 13 April – 30 June 2026 |
| COVID-19 and Adult Flu – Autumn/Winter 2026/27 | 31st July 2026 | Autumn/winter vaccination dates to be confirmed |
| Adult Flu only – Autumn/Winter 2026/27 | 30th November 2026 | Autumn/winter vaccination dates to be confirmed |
2. Who is eligible for Spring 2026 COVID vaccination?
- Adults aged 75+
- Older adult care‑home residents
- Immunosuppressed (IS) individuals aged 6 months+ (Please note, you are responsible for vaccinating young children from 6 months of age – there will not be a separate service for IS children)
Housebound patients must be vaccinated where they fall within these groups. NOTE: There is no housebound supplement.
3. Can we sign up for adult flu only?
Yes. If your practice decides to offer adult flu only, you need to select ‘reject’ on the CQRS on-line portal and do not need to do anything further until July.
4. Can we opt in for COVID‑19 only?
No. Opt‑in commits you to providing both COVID‑19 and flu vaccinations for eligible patients throughout the year. If you decide not to offer COVID-19 in the Spring campaign, you can opt-in to offer it in Autumn/Winter 2026/27 if you wish to, but you must also offer adult flu vaccinations.
5. Are PCNs still able to operate as a grouping, as previously?
No. PCN groupings are no longer required for vaccination delivery. However, if some practices within a PCN do not wish to participate, then those that remain in the campaign DO NOT have to vaccinate all the PCNs older adult care‑home residents or housebound. Please note, this is a change to the advice that NHSE previously provided. If none of the practices within a PCN opt-in to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, then the ICB Immunisation Team will have to sub-contract with an alternative provider, eg PCL or community pharmacist, and the opted-out practices will need to arrange to send their eligible patient lists to the ICB Immunisation Team by mid-March.
6. What has changed about vaccine supply?
Two major national changes apply this year:
- Mutual aid for COVID‑19 stock has ended. The current regulations governing mutual aid (distribution of vaccine between providers without a wholesale dealer’s license) will lapse, and the vaccine transfer policy will be withdrawn, and practices will no longer be able to borrow/lend vaccine. Vaccinating practices could take their vaccine to other/shared location and administer it to any patient from their network practice, recording it using their own GPIT system, however any unused vaccine remains the responsibility of the practice to which it belongs.
- A restricted supply model is being introduced – each practice will have its own vaccine supply. So practices will need to be mindful of their stock management to ensure stock levels align with planned clinics.
7. Are practices now responsible for ordering their own vaccines?
Yes. All opted‑in practices must order both COVID‑19 and flu vaccine directly.
- COVID-19: Centrally supplied; NHSE schedules deliveries, with stock/ordering managed via the FDP and practice submissions. Record every dose in GPIT; persistent wastage (>30%) may affect future allocations. You will have to sign-up for FDP if you have not managed COVID vaccine supply previously.
- Flu: Practice-procured in line with the Flu Letter and Green Book. Use recommended products; only consider alternatives exceptionally and signpost if needed.
All new COVID practice leads will receive the appropriate training ahead of the campaign start.
8. Will additional COVID vaccine stock be available if demand rises?
Practices should plan to operate within their allocation, especially early in the campaign. There will be some flexibility for ordering additional vaccine, as needed.
9. Can we sub‑contract vaccination delivery?
Yes. Sub‑contracting is permitted, but practices retain overall responsibility and oversight.
10. If my practice opts-out of the Spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign, how will my patients get a vaccination offer?
The vaccination of your patients will become the responsibility of the ICB Immunisation Team, and you will need to forward a list of all eligible patients to the ICB by mid-March. The ICB Immunisation Team will find an alternative provider to complete this undertaking.
11. How do we record COVID-19 doses and claim payment?
Use your GPIT clinical system for recording; claims go via CQRS National. Manage Your Service (MYS) and point-of-care (POC) systems are not used for COVID-19 under this ES.
12. How does the practice record the vaccination for these patients who they vaccinate, but are not registered to the practice and how do they claim payment?
The vaccinating practice records the vaccination in its own GPIT, using DES-enabled access to the patient record. Vaccination activity flows to FDP under the patient’s registered practice. Payment is made to the registered practice, not the vaccinating practice. Any redistribution of income is a local PCN financial arrangement, outside national systems.
13. Can we vaccinate patients not on our list?
No, GPs cannot vaccinate unregistered patients like CPs can. GPIT allows GPs who have opted into a network DES to record vaccinations administered to individuals registered to other practices in the network. The vaccination event data (and so FDP records / payments) flow to the registered practice, rather than the vaccinating practice.
GPs are not open-access vaccinators. GPs may vaccinate:
- their own registered patients, and
- patients registered to another practice within the same PCN, only where practices are collaborating under the Network Contract DES.
Routine vaccination of patients registered to another PCN is not supported. (The only explicit flexibility outside this relates to care home and housebound delivery.)
14. What is ‘limited circumstances’?
Practices can vaccinate other patients within their network DES (if signed up to do so), but data/payment flows back to the patient’s registered practice. GPIT allows GPs who have opted into a network DES to record vaccinations administered to individuals registered to other practices in the network. The vaccination event data (and so FDP records / payments) flow to the registered practice, rather than the vaccinating practice.
15. What are the 2026/27 Item of Service fees?
Adult flu: £10.06. COVID-19: £8.70 per dose during 1st Sept 2026 to 31st Jan 2027, and £10.06 outside that window. The previous £10 housebound supplement is now removed.
16. Where can we vaccinate?
On practice premises, in care homes and in patient’s own homes. Any other venue requires commissioner consent (via ICB Immunisation Team)beforehand.
17. Will support be available?
Yes. NHS England comms and materials will be circulated as and when received:
- A short ordering guide
- A readiness checklist
- Drop‑in session dates for operational and supply queries
- Vaccination staff training materials.
NHSE is holding a GP webinar on 27 January 5-6pm, this will focus on contractual and operational questions and will be a purely vaccination meeting. Further details to follow along with sign up details once received from NHSE
18. Who should we contact with questions?
Please contact LLR SVOC with any queries: llr.vaccopcentre@nhs.net
Source documents
General practice enhanced service specification (long-read)
NHSE letter for General Practice
Publication hub for seasonal vaccination service specifications (GP)
For context / parity with pharmacy: Community pharmacy seasonal vaccination service (long-read)
Help & contacts
| Service | Contact details |
| LLR Vaccination Operations Centre | llr.vaccopcentre@nhs.net |
| LLR Vaccination Helpline / Central Booking Team | llrpcl.cbt@nhs.net 0116 497 5700 (Option 1) Mon–Fri 09:00–16:00 |
| LLR Walk‑in vaccination clinic finder: | LLR Vaccine Portal – NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland |
| LLR Vaccine Hub | How to get your vaccine – LLR ICB |
| East Midlands Screening & Immunisation Team (SIT) – NHSE | england.imms@nhs.net |
| East Midlands Immunisation Clinical Advice Service (EMICAS) – NHSE | england.imms@nhs.net |