A regional publisher has called for thousands of local pharmacies to be used as coronavirus vaccination centres in a new campaign.

JPIMedia has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deploy the country’s network of 11,000 pharmacies for the purpose after readers across the country expressed concern about vaccine arrangements.

The ‘A shot in the arm’ campaign’s launch has appeared on the front pages of several JPIMedia dailies today.

Titles splashing on the campaign include Blackpool daily The Gazette, Lancashire Post, Portsmouth daily The News, Sheffield daily The Star, Shields Gazette, Sunderland Echo, Wigan Post, Yorkshire Evening Post and Yorkshire Post.

YEP editor Laura Collins said: “Out of the 11,000 available pharmacies across the UK, there is a very limited number of 200 pharmacies currently in use as vaccine centres.

“Thousands of readers have expressed concern over vaccine arrangements. Local pharmacies are highly trusted by their communities – and are convenient to access.

“Where they do not all have the staff and facilities to provide the jab, the Government should urgently provide this support.

“In the fight against coronavirus, accurate, timely, and trustworthy information is important so people know how to conduct themselves.

“We’re calling to ensure that vulnerable people have the information they need in the communities we serve. They want to know what they should do next and when, and our local titles are rooted in these communities to help support them.”

The campaign also requests further reassurance for local communities from the Government and more easy-to-access information on the vaccine programme and its progress.

A selection of front pages featuring the campaign’s launch

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