Key Summary
- JCVI has recommended to make NHS pneumococcal and seasonal flu vaccinations available to those experiencing homelessness.
- This will provide them better protection and a chance to stay well through winter.
- Increasing vaccination cover among vulnerable groups can help protect the wider public by reducing the spread of flu.
The government will provide free flu jabs this autumn for people experiencing homelessness, as it aims to tackle health inequalities by increasing the vaccine coverage among vulnerable groups.
The upcoming vaccination programme will support those experiencing rough sleeping and people staying in homeless hostels or night shelters.
This will provide them with better protection and a chance to stay well through winter.
This update comes after the government accepted the expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to make NHS pneumococcal and seasonal flu vaccinations available to those experiencing homelessness.
JCVI has said that this group faces very high levels of poor health and can be at similar, or even greater, risk from flu and pneumococcal disease than some groups already routinely eligible for vaccination.
Increasing vaccination among vulnerable groups can also help to protect the wider public by reducing the spread of flu, helping prevent avoidable hospitalisations, and easing winter pressures on the NHS and emergency services.
The government had earlier provided community pharmacies a greater role in flu vaccination and increased their fee.
Health secretary James Murray said, "For too long, people experiencing homelessness have faced some of the worst health outcomes in the country and have too often been missed by services many of us take for granted.
"They should not miss out on potentially life-saving protection against flu when they can be at similar, or even greater, risk from the disease than some groups already eligible for vaccination.
"This change is about putting that right. By rolling out flu vaccinations to homeless people, we are delivering on our promise to tackle health inequalities and make sure support reaches those who need it most."
Homeless care charity St Mungo's regional head Steve Davies said, "Contracting the flu can be dangerous even with a roof over your head. Experiencing homelessness alongside the flu can dramatically increase the risk of hospital admission - and even death.
"Health needs generally are becoming more acute among the people we support. Initiatives like this go a long way to preventing people who are homeless from being overlooked in this wider crisis in public health.
"Under the NHS 10-year plan and through wider collaboration across government and charities, we need to continue to ensure that every person facing homelessness has access to a healthcare system that enhances - rather than reduces - their life."
The other cohorts and vulnerable groups that already receive free flu vaccination include - people over the age of 65; pregnant women; people with long-term health conditions; immunosuppressed people; carers and household contacts of people with immunosuppression.
