Source: DHSC 2.8.2024 update
The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of severe illness (hospitalisations and deaths) arising from COVID-19. As currently available COVID-19 vaccines provide limited protection against mild and asymptomatic disease, the focus of the programme is on offering vaccination to those most likely to directly benefit from vaccination, particularly those with underlying health conditions that increase their risk of hospitalisation following infection. For autumn 2024, JCVI advises that a COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to:
- adults aged 65 years and over
- residents in a care home for older adults
- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
The vaccine should usually be offered no earlier than around 6 months after the last vaccine dose, although operational flexibility around the timing of vaccination in relation to the last vaccine dose is considered appropriate (with a minimum interval of 3 months between doses). More information on operational flexibility will be provided in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book.
The committee does not advise an offer of COVID-19 vaccination within the autumn 2024 national COVID-19 vaccination programme for frontline health and social care workers, staff working in care homes for older adults, unpaid carers and household contacts of people with immunosuppression.
JCVI does not consider aspects of occupational health programmes in their cost effectiveness methodology. Health and social care service providers may wish to consider whether vaccination provided as an occupational health programme is appropriate. Ahead of such considerations, health departments may choose to continue to extend an offer of vaccination to frontline health and social care workers and staff working in care homes for older adults in autumn 2024.
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