Almost 5,000 community pharmacies applied to take part in the Covid booster programme before the deadline last year, according to NHS England and Improvement.

A freedom of information request submitted by Independent Community Pharmacist revealed 4,733 contractors lodged 5,376 expressions of interest by July 28.

NHSE&I also said 1,454 community pharmacies are currently scheduled to, or have started, the phase three booster programme, although it said that figure "is subject to change, not least because there is a further national designation meeting, with further sites expected to join the programme in the next few weeks."

However, NHSE&I did not say how many pharmacies that submitted a request to take part were declined but insisted any "expressions of interest that were not prioritised or designated will be considered again if, as system requirements change over time, the commissioner chooses to commission this service from additional sites."