Practices may struggle to deliver COVID vaccination after a 25% cut in fees, GP leaders in England have warned.

NHS England says the new fee of £7.54 a vaccination is “sufficient” to cover the cost of a five minute procedure.

The British Medical Association says that COVID vaccination takes twice as long as flu vaccination. The chair of its GP committee in England Dr Katie Bramall-Stanier said: “During COVID, GPs and their practice teams demonstrated that they could deliver an effective world beating vaccination programme in challenging circumstances. Patients and GPs alike will despair that NHSE has announced substantial cuts to funding and resource of this national vaccination programme on the same day as news stories detail the arrival of a fresh COVID variant.

“At a time when we should be learning from history, particularly around the importance and value of protecting our patients and minimising hospital admissions this winter, it is disappointing that practices will be put in a position where they are no longer able to deliver this, though no fault of their own due to short-sighted cuts. The COVID vaccine delivery process is twice as long as administering flu jabs, and NHSE knows this. Our patients and communities need to be protected, and our practices resourced and supported to undertake this important work.”

NHS England said that practices could earn a £17.60 payment if they deliver the COVID and flu vaccine in a single visit.

A spokesperson said: “The revised fee will sufficiently cover the average cost of vaccinating someone against COVID as part of what is now a more predictable, seasonal offer. The NHS is working with vaccine sites to ensure a growing number offer both flu and COVID vaccinations at the same time where possible, to make it more convenient for people to get this life-saving protection ahead of winter, with additional payment available for a double jab in a single visit.”