The Government's push for more face-to-face GP appointments could be abandoned as family doctors become the frontiers of the UK's mammoth booster drive.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS England's chief executive, said she is looking at how GPs can 'deliver even more jabs by cutting other burdens on them'.
Ministers had been pushing for doctors to offer more in-person consultations, which are still a fifth lower than pre-pandemic levels.
But GPs are now expected to be on the frontline delivering booster jabs to ensure every adult in the UK is offered an appointment by the end of January, in a bid to increase protection against the new Omicron variant.
Doctors and community pharmacists have dished out 'the lion's share of the vaccinations so far' and they will be paid £15 per jab they dish out over the next two months, Ms Pritchard said.
But it will likely mean fewer face-to-face GP appointments for patients, which are already running at about a fifth of the pre-pandemic level.
Boris Johnson today unveiled the ramped-up booster drive to shield the nation against the Omicron, after eight more cases of the strain were found in England.
Plans include drafting in the Army, opening more vaccination centres and recruiting tens of thousands of volunteers to help with the rollout.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference this afternoon alongside the Prime Minister and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Ms Pritchard said: 'Our hard-working GPs, community pharmacists and their primary care colleagues have delivered the lion share of the vaccinations so far. We are looking at how we can help them deliver even more jabs by cutting other burdens on them to free up clinicians’ time'
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference this afternoon alongside the Prime Minister and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Ms Pritchard said: 'Our hard-working GPs, community pharmacists and their primary care colleagues have delivered the lion share of the vaccinations so far.
'We are looking at how we can help them deliver even more jabs by cutting other burdens on them to free up clinicians’ time.
'And we will ensure they are properly rewarded for their efforts, particularly when they take time to visit vulnerable housebound patients who can’t travel to vaccination sites.'
GPs will get £15 for every injection they administer – up from the current £12.58 fee.
Doctors and pharmacists will also get a £5 bonus per shot if they do on Sundays, as well as a £30 premium for jabs delivered vulnerable people in their homes.
And the Care Quality Commission, the regulator for health and social care services in England, will stop routinely inspecting general practice 'to free up clinicians' time', Ms Pritchard said.
But GPs getting involved in the rollout will likely mean fewer face-to-face GP appointments, which are already running at about a fifth of the pre-pandemic level.
NHS England data shows 64 per cent of GP appointments in October were face-to-face, compared to eight in 10 before the pandemic.
Mr Javid announced a £250million package for GP surgeries last month to help doctors offer
