Winter vaccinations system update
The DHSC, UKHSA and NHSE announced that due to concerns around a new variant, the winter Covid-19 vaccination campaign is being brought forward. UKHSA has determined the most appropriate intervention with the greatest potential public health impact is to vaccinate all those eligible, quickly.
Thank you for all your efforts so far this year to prepare for the winter vaccination campaign and thank you to those that have already submitted their EOIs for the Covid and/or Flu vaccination Autumn/Winter 2023/2024 Enhanced Service Specifications. The deadline for submissions is now 4 September and you can find more information on the deadlines and contact information here: http://coronavirus.wel.nhs.sitekit.net/covid-updates/flu-and-covid-sign-up-deadlines/630522
Vaccinations timeline:
- 11 September 2023 – start vaccinating care homes with Covid-19 jabs
- 11 September 2023 – COVID-19 and flu vaccinations can commence for those eligible via Local Booking Systems
- 18 September 2023 – the National Booking System (NBS) which will become available to allow eligible people to book a COVID-19 vaccination online (using NHS.uk), via the NHS App or by calling 119. National COVID-19 vaccination invitations will also start from 18 September.
Flu vaccinations will also start in September and co-administration will be encouraged where possible. The eligibility cohorts are the same for both in adults, but flu is also offered to children from 2-17.
- The NHS system letter is here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-vaccination-response-to-urgent-ba2-8/
- NHSE press release: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/08/nhs-flu-and-covid-vaccine-programmes-brought-forward-due-to-risk-of-new-covid-variant/
- DHSC/UKHSA advice and press release: www.gov.uk/government/news/flu-and-covid-autumn-vaccine-programmes-brought-forward
Printed materials to promote winter vaccinations for eligible frontline healthcare workers are now available to pre-order until Friday 8 September and will be delivered to sites late September. Colleagues can order printed materials here. Digital versions of these campaign assets will be available for download mid-September at the same link.