Seasonal Influenza: Letter From The CMO

Published: 21/05/25

The Chief Medical Officer has asked us to share the following advice with the network: Community pharmacists should not supply antiviral medicines in primary care on presentation of a GP10 prescription form.

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This communication follows SGHD/CMO(2024)20, which issued on 03 December 2024 advising that antiviral medicines (specifically oseltamivir and zanamivir) could be prescribed to treat influenza where clinically indicated, and in particular, among those vulnerable to severe disease or presenting with severe infection / symptoms.

The Seasonal Flu Vaccination programme came to a close on 31 March 2025. In addition to this, Public Health Scotland (PHS) has confirmed that the circulation of flu virus in the community has remained at baseline levels for some time. Further information is available here.

Therefore, this letter is to advise that the routine prescribing of antivirals for influenza by GPs in the community should now cease.

This means:

• GPs and other prescribers working in primary care should not prescribe antivirals for the prevention or treatment of influenza on a GP10 prescription form; and

• Community pharmacists should not supply antiviral medicines in primary care on presentation of a GP10 prescription form.

This advice does not impact on prescribing of antivirals in hospitals or as advised by NHS Public Health Department health protection teams for the management of incidents / outbreaks of influenza.

We would be grateful if you could cascade this message for immediate action as appropriate.

We thank you for your continued support.

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