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<p>The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent group
of experts who advise the Government health departments in the four nations of the
United Kingdom on immunisations and the prevention of infectious disease. On 8 August
2023, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI on who should be offered COVID-19
vaccination in autumn 2023.</p><p>The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme
remains the prevention of severe illness, namely hospitalisations and deaths, arising
from COVID-19. The JCVI advice is to focus the offer of vaccination on those at greatest
risk of serious disease or at high risk of transmitting the disease to vulnerable
individuals. For this autumn the eligible groups for vaccination are residents and
staff in a care home for older adults, all adults aged 65 years old and over, persons
aged 6 months to 64 years old in a clinical risk group, frontline health and social
care workers, persons aged 12 to 64 years old who are household contacts and persons
aged 16 to 64 years old who are carers.</p><p>The clinical risk groups for COVID-19
vaccination are defined in the UK Health Security Agency’s ‘Green Book’ on vaccines
and immunisation Chapter 14a tables 3 and 4. Post-COVID Syndrome (long COVID) is not
currently identified by the JCVI as one of these conditions. The JCVI considered post-COVID
syndromes when developing advice for autumn 2023 and concluded that there is not currently
sufficient evidence to support making individuals experiencing post-COVID syndrome
an eligible group for vaccination.</p><p>To support individuals with long COVID, NHS
England has set out a long COVID action plan, including establishing a nationwide
network of specialist clinics. Anyone who is concerned about ongoing symptoms following
COVID-19 can find information and advice on the ‘NHS Your COVID Recovery’ website.
The JCVI will continue to review evidence and will provide further advice regarding
future vaccination programmes in due course.</p>
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