A Covid-19 vaccination programme has been scheduled for autumn following the advice of the committee that advises the UK Government on immunisation.
Andrew Gwynne, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, accepted the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
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Mr Gwynne said: ‘We are committed to protecting those most vulnerable from Covid and have accepted the independent advice from the JCVI for the autumn 2024 vaccination programme last week.
‘I encourage anyone invited for a vaccine to get one as soon as possible to protect yourself and reduce pressure on the NHS during winter, helping to cut waiting times and get the health service back on its feet.’
The vaccine will also be offered to those working in care homes for older people, as well as frontline NHS and social workers.
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All those aged 65 or over, all those in care homes for older people, and anyone aged 6 months or older who are clinically vulnerable will also be eligible for a vaccination this autumn.
Helen Donovan, independent nurse consultant and immunisation specialist nurse, told Nursing in Practice of the continued importance of patients, and healthcare practitioners, to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
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‘Covid-19 has not gone away and we continue to see cases. The vaccine continues to help minimise the impact of the infections by reducing the severity and helping keep people out of hospital. This helps reduce the pressure on the NHS.
‘It is important for health and social care staff to get the vaccine, they are more likely to come into contact with infected people through their work and can then pass the infection on to other patients but also friends and family.’
