COVID vaccines may quickly be bought on the excessive avenue, in keeping with retailers.

One business chief mentioned it was in talks with vaccine suppliers and the scheme may very well be launched as quickly as subsequent yr.

A Superdrug spokesperson mentioned the agency is talking "with suppliers about doubtlessly providing a personal COVID vaccination service in 2024.

"Ensuring healthcare is as accessible as potential for folks is our precedence and we're fascinated by providing a personal COVID vaccination.

"Currently we are gathering information to assess whether it's a viable option."

A Boots spokesperson mentioned: "We would like to offer private COVID vaccinations and we are looking into how this might be possible in the future.

"We already provide a variety of vaccinations, together with flu vaccinations for each personal and NHS prospects."

Health minister Maria Caulfield mentioned in a solution to a written query that the federal government was "supportive of the emergence of a private market for COVID vaccines" in England.

"Currently COVID vaccines are not available privately but as is the case for many other vaccines, manufacturers and providers are able to set up a private market alongside the NHS offer when they consider this viable and appropriate," she mentioned.

Ms Caulfield added the federal government was "engaging with relevant parties on this."

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75.8% of England's over-18s had obtained a minimum of three COVID vaccinations as of two March this yr, in keeping with the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Of those that had obtained three doses and have been eligible for a fourth, 77.7% proceeded.

A fourth dose was given to 94% of individuals over 80 years outdated, in comparison with 66.4% of individuals of their 50s.