Steve Russell, the National Director for Vaccinations and Screening for NHS England has written to health and social care organisations across England setting out the next steps for the flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes for Autumn and Winter following this week’s Government’s announcement. The announcement, that confirmed additional cohorts will now be offered the flu vaccine and acceptance of JCVI advice for the COVID-19 booster dose, includes persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book.
COVID-19 Vaccine Autumn Booster
Final JCVI advice this week confirms that the COVID-19 Autumn booster should be offered to the following groups:
- Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
- Frontline health and social care workers
- All adults aged 50 years and over
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, as set out in the Green Book
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers, as set out in the Green Book
A full copy of the updated JCVI advice can be found here.
Operational delivery plans are being finalised over the coming weeks, to ensure that all cohorts set out by the JCVI, especially children and young people aged between 5 -15 years old who are at risk, are included in operational delivery plans.
Steve Russell, National Director for Vaccinations and Screening for NHS England said:
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have confirmed you would like to continue to participate in the Autumn programme and we are looking forward to working with you."
Expansion to the flu vaccine programme
The government has also announced that, in addition to flu vaccine cohorts previously set out in the annual flu letter 2022/23, the following cohorts will now be offered the free NHS flu vaccine to help protect more people and reduce admissions to hospital this winter.
To ensure those most at risk from COVID-19 and flu are protected first, the timing for offering the flu vaccine to these additional groups will be announced in due course but is likely to be later in the flu season.
The additional groups announced today by Government are:
Secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9 will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first). This group are likely to be offered vaccination later in the year once children age 2 and 3 and primary school age children have been vaccinated.
50 to 64 year olds that are not in a clinically at-risk group, who are likely to be offered vaccination later in the year once people that are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and flu, including those in clinically at-risk groups have been offered their vaccine.
The NHS will announce when people aged 50 to 64 years not in a clinical at risk group will be able to book an appointment or request their free NHS flu vaccine.
Read the full letter published by NHS England here.
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