The national flu immunisation programme 2020 to 2021- update

Further to the letter published on 14 May, this letter advises on expansion of the programme in light of the risk of flu and COVID-19 co-circulating this winter, to protect vulnerable people and support the resilience of the health and care system.

SPS commentary:

This year as part of wider planning for winter, and subject to contractual negotiations, this season flu vaccination will be additionally offered to:

 

  • household contacts of those on the NHS Shielded Patient List. Specifically individuals who expect to share living accommodation with a shielded person on most days over the winter and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable.
  • children of school Year 7 age in secondary schools (those aged 11 on 31 August 2020).
  • health and social care workers employed through Direct Payment (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants, to deliver domiciliary care to patients and service users.

 

There are also plans to further extend the vaccine programme in November and December to include the 50-64 year old age group subject to vaccine supply.

Public Health England