Letter from the Health and Social Care Secretary on COVID-19 vaccination phase 1 advice

Thursday, 11 March 2021 16:27

Matt Hancock wrote to the JCVI in response to their further advice on vaccination of homeless people and rough sleepers, prisoners and prison officers, and the extended dosing strategy. Letter from the Health and Social Care Secretary to the JCVI: 11 March 2021 Letter from the JCVI to the Health and Social Care Secretary on further considerations on phase 1 advice: 1 March 2021 Details Letters...Request free trial

Matt Hancock wrote to the JCVI in response to their further advice on vaccination of homeless people and rough sleepers, prisoners and prison officers, and the extended dosing strategy.

Letter from the Health and Social Care Secretary to the JCVI: 11 March 2021

Letter from the JCVI to the Health and Social Care Secretary on further considerations on phase 1 advice: 1 March 2021

Details

Letters between the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock and Professor Wei Shen Lim at the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI).

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock said:

“Our vaccination rollout is moving at an incredible speed with two in every five adults now having received at least one vaccine. It’s so important that nobody gets left behind in this national effort.

“We know there are heightened risks for those who sleep rough and today I have accepted the advice of the independent experts at the JCVI to prioritise those experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness for vaccination alongside priority group 6. This will mean we will save more lives, among those most at risk in society.

“As a government we have stepped in to protect the homeless throughout the pandemic, housing over 37,000 people through the ‘Everyone In’ campaign, and providing over £700 million to tackle rough sleeping this year. The vaccination programme is just the next step in this important work.”

Housing Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

“We have taken unprecedented action to support the most vulnerable people in our society during the pandemic – housing 37,000 people at risk of rough sleeping through Everyone In and asking councils to make sure that all rough sleepers are registered with a GP and are factored into local area vaccination plans.

“Today’s announcement from the JCVI builds on the great work that has already been done across the UK to vaccinate people who are homeless or sleeping rough and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the effort so far. Working together we will ensure that the most vulnerable are protected from Covid-19.”

Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi said:

“This is a very challenging period for people who are homeless. We know those experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness aren’t always able to access healthcare routinely and therefore can often have a range of health issues which can leave them at an increased risk of this virus.

“Following the recommendation by the JCVI local teams will now be able to prioritise this group for vaccination alongside priority group 6 and make sure fewer people fall seriously ill or die from COVID-19.”