The vaccine priority list will be shuffled around to accommodate adults living with someone high-risk
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that people under the age of 50 who are currently living with someone who is high-risk/immunocompromised will be offered a vaccine by mid-April.
This follows the continued vaccine rollout scheme, which is believed to be ahead of schedule, as under-30s could also be vaccinated next month, according to Nadhim Zahawi.
The list of those eligible for a bumped up jab includes anyone living with those suffering from cancer, HIV or with a reduced immune system. Those undergoing chemotherapy or being treated with medication after an organ transplant are considered significantly high-risk cases.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), states that we have so far “so far seen high vaccine uptake and very encouraging results on infection rates, hospitalisations and mortality”.
She also went on to say that vaccines aren’t as effective on those who have a weak immune system and, therefore, this latest decision “will help reduce the risk of infection in those who may not be able to fully benefit from being vaccinated themselves”.
The logic behind this shift in approach is to hopefully create long-term immunity in smaller groups, allowing for those who are at risk within that group to stand a better chance of staying healthy and continue responding to the vaccine.
Hancock has ordered the NHS to include these groups of people under the advice of the JCVI. Essentially, this will see the high-risk household group move above the over-50s, but before the over-40s in the vaccine priority list.
For more information on how to find out when you will be eligible for a vaccine, be sure to check out the NHS Covid-19 vaccine page.
