Care home residents and staff are set to be among the first in the world to receive the new, variant-tackling jabs from Monday 12 September 2022. This is part of the NHS COVID-19 autumn vaccination programme. Furthermore, to encourage protection, GPs will be incentivised to deliver ‘accelerated’ COVID-19 autumn boosters, with payments up to a maximum of £525 per completed care home. GP-led vaccination teams will receive:
- £150 for each ‘small care home’ of 1-10 residents
- £275 for each ‘medium care home’ of 11-49 residents
- £400 for each ‘large care home’ of 50-149 residents
- £525 for each ‘very large care home of 150-250 residents
Why is the COVID-19 autumn vaccination programme being launched?
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (“JCVI”) said in July that “winter remains the season when the threat from Covid-19 is greatest” and that a wave of influenza infections was also to be expected. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) said the government could increase activity depending on the level of uptake over the coming weeks. A record 3,100 sites are expected to be part of the rollout, which includes GP practices and community pharmacies, with new sites joining the programme all the time. This is to meet significant demand as currently, around 26 million people across England are eligible for a COVID-19 autumn booster jab, including over-50s, those with a weakened immune system, health and social care workers, care home residents and housebound people.
What has been said?
A spokesperson for the DHSC said:
“We are committed to ensuring the right plans are in place for flu and Covid vaccines. We are providing additional funding for vaccinations to ensure more people get their jabs, with all those over 50 being offered them for both Covid and flu – and we urge all those eligible to come forward for their vaccination.”
NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said:
“Around 26 million people across England will be eligible for an autumn booster over the comings weeks, which includes over 50s, those with a weakened immune system, health and social care workers and care home residents and housebound people, in line with guidance set out by the JCVI.”
