To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce infection rates in winter.
Answered on
24 November 2023
This winter, based on the latest scientific evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination for eligible cohorts including adults aged 65 years old and over and those with specified underlying health conditions.
The National Health Service flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes provide vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.
This year’s autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccine programmes started on 11 September 2023 in England as a precautionary measure following the identification a new COVID-19 variant (BA 2.86). As of 16 November 2023, over 25.2 million autumn vaccinations for COVID and flu have been administered since the start of campaign on 11 September 2023 - making this the fastest flu rollout on record and the fastest ever rollout of COVID-19 vaccination to care home residents.
Additionally, on the 1 November 2023 the ‘Get winter strong’ campaign was launched, urging those eligible who’ve not yet come forward for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to ‘get winter strong’ and join the millions of others in taking up the offer ahead of the festive and new year season when flu and COVID-19 infections are likely to increase.
The JCVI recognises that there is a significant burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness in the UK population and unmet public health need which has a considerable impact on NHS services during the winter months. Officials across the Department, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England are developing policy options at speed based on JCVI’s advice regarding an expanded RSV immunisation programme to protect infants and older adults.