New technology to help identify those at high risk from COVID-19
The QCovid® risk-prediction model, which analyses a combination of risk factors based on medical records, will help clinicians identify a new group of people who may be at high risk from Covid-19, who will be prioritised for vaccination as part of the current vaccination cohorts.
Source:
Department of Health and Social Care
SPS commentary:
The research to develop and validate the model, which has been independently validated by the Office for National Statistics, was published in the British Medical Journal in 2020. Additional code underpinning the model will be made available within a month.
Patients identified by the risk assessment will be added to the Shielded Patient List by NHS Digital, on a precautionary basis, and will be invited to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible if they have not already had it. They will additionally be given advice on precautionary measures, including shielding where this is the current advice.
A letter to NHS Trusts introduces and explains the new model; a similar letter has been sent to GPs.