“This will mean we will save more lives, among those most at risk in society.”
The government have moved homeless people into group 6 at the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Priority group 6 also includes those aged 16-65 with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and severe mental illness.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said: “We know there are heightened risks for those who sleep rough and today I have accepted the advice of the independent experts at the JCVI to prioritise those experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness for vaccination alongside priority group 6.
“This will mean we will save more lives, among those most at risk in society.”
Despite government schemes to provide housing for homeless people during the pandemic, deaths were up among rough sleepers.
The Museum of Homelessness recorded 976 deaths across England, Scotland, and Wales during the pandemic – a figure that was up by one third compared to reported deaths in 2019.
Homelessness is a chronic issue in the UK, with Shelter estimating that around 280,000 people were homeless in England alone as of December 2019.
In 2020, there were nearly 1,000 homeless deaths recorded, a 33 per cent rise on the previous year.
