NHS England confirms details on C-19 and flu 2024/25 vac programmes
NHS England has written to community pharmacy owners to confirm the eligible cohorts for COVID-19 vaccinations and the timings for the autumn/winter programme. The letter also reiterates the previously announced timings for the flu vaccination programme.
The letter, follows the Government’s acceptance of the final advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) regarding a COVID-19 autumn/winter 2024/25 vaccination programme.
COVID-19 cohorts
The groups to be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in autumn/winter 2024/25 are:
- residents in a care home for older adults;
- all adults aged 65 years and over;
- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency Green Book on immunisation against infectious disease; and
- frontline health and social care workers and staff working in care homes for older adults.
For the latter group, which will include community pharmacy staff, NHS England are asking employers to signpost these staff to the most convenient COVID-19 vaccination offer, which may be through NBS, where staff can self-declare their eligibility.
Campaign timings
As stated in the National Flu Immunisation Programme 2024 to 2025 letter, flu vaccinations for pregnant women only, will commence from Sunday 1st September 2024.
The main flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns will both commence on Thursday 3rd October 2024. This start date reflects JCVI advice that the flu vaccine’s effectiveness can wane over time in adults and so a later start date is preferable.
In the letter, NHS England has also confirmed that payment to all providers, will only be made for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations administered from the service commencement date onwards.
NHS England anticipate that most flu and COVID-19 vaccinations should be completed by Friday 20th December 2024.
Outreach activities for COVID-19 vaccination should continue to be delivered to underserved communities until Friday 31st January 2025. Flu vaccinations will be available until Monday 31st March 2025.
National Booking Service (NBS)
NBS will be opened for all participating sites to post COVID-19 and flu appointments from Monday 16th September 2024. It will be open for bookings from the public from Monday 23rd September 2024.
The last available appointment date on NBS will be Friday 20th December 2024 for both flu and COVID-19.
