Due to current restrictions, many thousands of people who
sleep rough have been housed in emergency accommodation.
This provides a unique opportunity to offer vaccination
to those often unable to access basic healthcare.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
(JCVI)
advises that local teams consider a universal offer to
adults experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping
alongside those in priority group 6.
They should also be offered the vaccine without the need
for an NHS number or GP registration.
Local decisions should be taken on whether a shorter
schedule may be offered if they are unlikely to return
for the second dose at 12 weeks.
Operationally, it is anticipated that the
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be easier to deploy to
this group of people. The optimal timing for the second
dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 8 to 12 weeks
after the first dose.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 Chair for JCVI,
said:
The JCVI’s
advice on COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation was developed
with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible.
People experiencing homelessness are likely to have
health conditions that put them at higher risk of death
from COVID-19.
This advice will help us to protect more people who are
at greater risk, ensuring that fewer people become
seriously ill or die from the virus.
Rosanna O’Connor, Acting Director for Health Improvement
at Public Health England, said:
People who are homeless or who sleep rough face reduced
access to healthcare, and experience some of the
highest rates of poor health outcomes and undiagnosed
health issues.
We welcome this decision of JCVI
and are pleased to have supported the committee with
the evidence that helped make this decision, which will
protect those who are most vulnerable and may be at
increased of severe illness or death from COVID-19.
The JCVI
will continue to consider the emerging evidence and will
keep its advice under review.
The JCVI
letter outlining the recommendations is available in
full.
