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Homeless people to be prioritised for vaccine in England and Wales
People who are homeless are to be prioritised for the vaccine in England and Wales, the UK and Welsh governments have confirmed.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that local teams can exercise judgement, but should consider offering all people experiencing homelessness the vaccine as part of priority group six.
Priority group six includes adults aged 16 to 65 who are in an at-risk group, including people with heart problems, severe learning disabilities or severely overweight individuals.
The JCVI said homeless people should be included in this group due to the likelihood of many homeless individuals having undiagnosed underlying health conditions.
In a letter to Mr Hancock, the JCVI added that there is currently a “unique opportunity” to vaccinate the homeless population, many of whom are being housed in emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It follows pressure from the Greater London Authority, which asked the JCVI for permission to vaccinate the rough sleepers it was housing in hotels before funding for the accommodation ran out.
A number of local authorities have already taken the decision to prioritise homeless people for the vaccine, including Oldham, Redbridge and Liverpool.
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Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “We welcome the secretary of state’s acceptance and commitment to this advice from JCVI. As it makes clear, local areas can prioritise people who are homeless for vaccination and must make appropriate considerations in their vaccine roll-out plans.
“People without a home experience severe health inequalities, including being almost twice as likely to have heart disease and respiratory conditions which will increase their risk from COVID-19, so it is vital they are able to access the vaccine as quickly as possible.
“The UK government must now ensure that, working with homelessness services, all local areas have the resources they need to make this happen.
“But make no mistake, the vaccine will not make homelessness safe. Whether it is living on the streets, or in cars and sheds, or constantly moving between friends’ sofas, homelessness is extremely damaging to both your physical and mental health. We desperately need a plan to ensure everyone has a safe and secure home.”
The UK government’s decision came one day after the Welsh government announced that all homeless people would be offered the vaccine as part of priority group six.
The Welsh government said local authorities, the third sector, housing organisations and homelessness support team will be key to ensuring homeless people take up their vaccine offer, as many are not registered with a GP.
It said the vaccine will be taken to where people are, rather than expecting them to visit services.
Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said: “It is as shocking as it is saddening that those who are homeless are much more likely to have a physical or mental health conditions which put them at a higher risk from the harms of COVID-19.
“A fundamental principle of our vaccination programme is that no one will be left behind and as part of this commitment, we are already working to ensure it is as easy as possible for every eligible adult in Wales to have a coronavirus vaccine if they want one.
“Today’s guidance provides further information on how we are going to do this across organisations and government to ensure homeless people are supported to get protected and have their vaccine too.”
Julie James, minister for housing and local government in Wales, said: “Today’s announcement means we will be able to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“Since the pandemic began, housing teams and support workers in local authorities and the third sector have been working tirelessly to support people who are experiencing homelessness into safe, secure accommodation. Thousands have been helped and lives have undoubtedly been saved. These teams will now play an absolutely crucial role in helping us get the vaccine to where it’s most needed.
“By extending the offer of vaccination to people who are experiencing homelessness and, importantly, taking the vaccine to where those people are, we can ensure that no one is left behind.”
Katie Dalton, director of Cymorth Cymru, said: “We are delighted that people experiencing homelessness are being prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine in Wales. We have worked closely with the Welsh government to evidence the particular risks to this population, and we are really pleased that ministers have responded through the publication of this guidance.
“As well as the higher prevalence of underlying health conditions, we know that people experiencing homelessness are less likely to be registered with health services and could have missed out on the vaccine. The inclusive approach set out today means that public services and support providers are empowered to ensure that people sleeping rough and in emergency or supported accommodation are not forgotten and get the protection they need from COVID-19.”
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