Boots will begin selling Covid-19 vaccines from next week as part of a private vaccination service.

The single-dose Pfizer jab will be available at 50 of its stores from 1 April for £98.95, The Times reported.

This will be the first time a Covid-19 vaccine will be available outside of the NHS since the government’s mass vaccination programme in December 2020.

Boots will administer the vaccine to anyone aged 12 and over who does not qualify for the free booster jab under the NHS, with appointment slots releasing this week.

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A Boots spokesman told The Times: “We are launching a private Covid-19 vaccination service for people who are not eligible for an NHS vaccination but still want the option to protect themselves from the virus.

“Our private service builds on our existing delivery of Covid-19 vaccinations for the NHS and we are pleased we can now offer Covid-19 vaccinations both on behalf of the NHS and privately, as we have done with flu vaccinations for many years.”

The retailer’s cheif executive Seb James has long been vocal about the role of the retailer’s pharmacies in supporting the NHS.

Boots launched NHS Pharmacy First across all its stores in January, allowing its pharamists to provide advice and sell prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions in a bid to alleviate pressure on the UK’s healthcare system.

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