Yesterday the Prime Minister set out our COVID winter plan, protecting the gains of our historic vaccine rollout that has allowed life to return to a sense of normality. 

Thanks to the efforts of the public, the NHS and our phenomenal vaccination programme, we were able to proceed with Step 4 of our roadmap on 19 July and return life to a sense of normality – but the winter months ahead will bring renewed challenges. That is why yesterday, the Prime Minister set out our autumn and winter plan for managing COVID – including offering booster jabs to priority groups 1 to 9, continuing with the Test, Trace and Isolate programme, continuing to provide free lateral flow tests at this stage, and keeping a range of ‘Plan B’ measures under review to help control transmission of the virus whilst minimising economic and social damage. 

Over autumn and winter, the Government will aim to sustain the progress that we have achieved through our historic vaccine rollout through:

• Building our defences through pharmaceutical interventions
• Identifying and isolating positive cases to limit transmission
• Supporting the NHS and social care
• Advising people on how to protect themselves and others
• Pursuing an international approach

So as the public would expect, there will be a range of ‘Plan B’ measures kept under review to help control transmission of the virus while minimising economic and social damage.

Plan B would include:

• Introducing mandatory vaccine only Covid status certification in certain, riskier settings.
• Legally mandating face coverings in certain settings, such as public transport and shops.
• Communicating clearly and urgently to the public if the risk level increases.

The Government could also consider asking people to work from home again if necessary, but a final decision on this would be made at the time, dependent on the latest data – recognising the extra disruption this causes to individuals and businesses.

Ministers would only decide to implement these measures if necessary, and if a range of metrics and indicators mean the NHS is at risk of becoming overwhelmed.

Plan B recognises the success of our vaccination programme – meaning smaller interventions which are far less disruptive can have a much bigger impact on reducing the spread.

The Prime Minister committed to taking whatever action is necessary to protect the NHS, but stressed his belief that the combined efforts of the public and the vaccination programme mean we can avoid plan B and protect our freedoms in the coming months.

COVID is still out there - and the disease remains a risk. But we are confident we can keep going with our plan to turn jabs into jobs - and protect the gains we have made together.

For more information on the Government’s autumn and winter COVID plan, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-autumn-and-winter-covid-plan

Most vulnerable to be offered COVID-19 booster vaccines from next week

Yesterday the Government announced that millions of the most vulnerable in society will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine from next week, giving them the strongest possible protection over the winter months.

Our vaccine roll-out has been phenomenal - but we must do everything we can to prolong the protection our vaccines offer, particularly for the most vulnerable, as we head into the autumn and winter months. That is why, following advice from the JCVI, next week we will begin offering a booster vaccine to those most at risk, including care home residents, health and social care workers, people aged over 50, and 16 to 49 year olds with underlying health conditions.

The programme will be rolled out to the same priority groups as previously. This means care home residents, health and social care workers, people aged over 50, those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, adult carers, and adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals will be prioritised.

However, there will be flexibility in the programme, allowing all those eligible to receive their booster from 6 months after their second doses. This approach will allow more vulnerable people to be given their boosters quicker.

People will be offered either a full dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or a half dose of the Moderna vaccine, following scientific evidence showing that both provide a strong booster response. This will be regardless of which vaccine the individual previously had.

Where neither can be offered, for example for those who have an allergy to either vaccine, the JCVI advise that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine can be used for those who received this vaccine for their first and second doses. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives in the UK and around the world.

Vaccinations will begin next week and the NHS will contact people directly to let them know when it is their turn to get their booster vaccine. NHS England will outline further details on deployment shortly.

This will give the best possible protection to the most vulnerable over the months ahead, and we urge all those eligible to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines as soon as they can.

For more information on the COVID-19 booster vaccine programme, including comments from the Health and Social Care Secretary, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/most-vulnerable-to-be-offered-covid-19-booster-vaccines-from-next-week.

Flu vaccines

Flu vaccination remains a priority. It has been recommended for staff and vulnerable groups in the UK since the late 1960s, with the average number of estimated deaths in England for the 5 seasons 2015 to 2020 at over 11,000 deaths annually. During the 2019 to 2020 winter season, 86% of deaths associated with flu were people aged 65 and over.

The JCVI has also advised that the flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered. The NHS will now consider where it’s appropriate for co-administration to be used to support the roll-out of both programmes and where waiting to deliver one vaccine does not unduly delay administration of the other. It is important people take up the offer of both vaccines when they receive it, so people are encouraged to get both vaccinations as soon as possible rather than waiting for the possibility of getting them together.

The JCVI advice has taken into account data from the government-funded COV-Boost clinical trial, looking at the impact of a booster dose of each vaccine on people’s immune systems, as well as ComFluCOV, which is investigating co-administration of the flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

Young people aged 12 to 15 to be offered a COVID-19 vaccine

The Government has accepted the recommendations of the UK’s four Chief Medical Officers to offer young people aged 12 to 15 one Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine dose, reducing transmission and preventing disruption to their education – protecting young people’s health and mental health.

We know that vaccinations are our best defence against the virus – they have already prevented over 112,000 deaths, more than 143,000 hospitalisations, and over 24 million infections. They have built a vast wall of defence for the British people. And now, following advice from the UK's four Chief Medical Officers, from next week 12 to 15 year olds will be invited to receive a first dose in a schools-based vaccination programme – as other countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Israel and the USA already are. Parental, guardian, or carer consent will be sought in line with existing programmes.

Healthy school-aged children aged 12 to 15 will primarily receive their COVID-19 vaccination in their school with alternative provision for those who are home schooled, in secure services or specialist mental health settings.

Our NHS is ready to roll out the vaccine to further protect young people, reducing transmission in schools and keeping pupils in the classroom.

For more information on the Government’s announcement that people aged 12 to 15 in England will be offered a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including comments from the Health and Social Care Secretary, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/young-people-aged-12-to-15-to-be-offered-a-covid-19-vaccine.

Vaccine effectiveness: COVID deaths rare among fully vaccinated

Data published by ONS yesterday shows people who have not been vaccinated account for around 99% of all deaths involving COVID-19 in England in the first half of this year. The 1% who were vaccinated includes individuals who had been infected before they were vaccinated. In reality only 0.5% were people who were both fully vaccinated and who had their first positive PCR test at least 14 days after their second dose – however these people were mostly people at very high risk from illness from COVID-19. The figures show the high degree of protection from the vaccines against illness and death, as stated by the Office for National Statistics.

The UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is a recognised success: 89% of people aged 16 and over have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, whilst 80% have had their second dose. Public Health England estimate that over 143,600 hospitalisations, up to 116,200 deaths and 24 million cases in England have been prevented by the vaccination programme in England to date. A total of 44,108,746 people have received 2 doses (89.2%) and 48,458,700 people have received one dose (81.2%). The phenomenal vaccine rollout is building a wall of defence that is allowing us to get back to normal life.

Thanks to the phenomenal success of the vaccination programme, the data continues to show the link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths has weakened significantly. In England, the number of hospital admissions with COVID has remained relatively stable over the last month.

And although deaths increased at the beginning of the summer, they have remained far below the levels in either of the previous waves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are we offering vaccines to healthy 12 to 15-year-olds when the JCVI did not recommend it?

• It was never in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) remit to consider the wider impacts of vaccination of this age group, such as the benefits for children in education or the mental health benefits.
• The JCVI recommended that the Government sought the views of the four UK CMOs on the wider issues relevant to the health of children,
• The CMOs consulted with clinical experts and public health professionals from across the United Kingdom, such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
• They have also benefited from having data from the United States of America, Canada and Israel, where vaccines have already been offered to children aged 12 to 15 years old.
• The unanimous recommendation of the UK's chief medical officers is to make a universal offer of one dose of the Pfizer vaccine to the 12 to 15-year-old age group, with further JCVI guidance needed before any decision on a second dose
• The Secretary of State, together with the Health Ministers from the devolved nations, accepted that advice

How does the Government decide which countries are suitable for international travel and what are the latest rules?

• Countries are allocated according to the latest scientific data, so quarantine and testing requirements on return from countries listed on the amber or red list are appropriate to the risk.
• The Traffic Light System has sought to balance a greater degree of travel with limiting the risk to the UK from Variants of Concern. More recently the rules have been relaxed for many fully vaccinated travellers, reflecting the progress of vaccination campaigns at home and abroad.
• International arrivals from red list countries or those who have been in a red list country in the preceding ten days are required to isolate in a managed quarantine facility for ten days after arrival and to take a PCR test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8. 
• Since 19 July, arrivals from amber list countries who have been fully vaccinated with an NHS-administered vaccine (or have been fully vaccinated in Europe or the USA) do not have to self-isolate or take a day 8 test when travelling to England
• Fully vaccinated travellers are still required to take a pre-departure test, a PCR test on or before Day 2, with any positive results genomically sequenced to continue to manage the risk of importing variants.
• The Government will shortly set out a revised framework for international travel, in advance of the next formal checkpoint review, with a deadline of 1 October.

What is the Government doing to reduce the costs and improve the quality of tests for travellers?

• The Government continues to work with the travel industry and private testing providers to further reduce testing costs and improve the speed and quality of testing performance, while ensuring travel is as safe as possible.
• More than 80 companies have had misleading prices corrected on the Government’s website and, in addition, over 50 forms have been removed.
• From 21 September private providers will be liable for criminal offences and penalties if they do not meet standards set out in legislation.
• This action will help ensure consumers can trust the testing providers listed on GOV. UK and only the most reliable companies are available.

What are the rules on self-isolation?

• Since 16 August, those who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to self-isolate if they are a close contact of a positive case. Instead, they will be advised to take a PCR test.
• Children are also now exempt from the requirement to self-isolate if they are a close contact of a positive case. They will instead receive advice on testing where appropriate.
• Anyone who tests positive will still need to self-isolate regardless of their vaccination status or age.

How can we prevent restrictions returning over autumn and winter?

• The Government monitors and considers a wide range of COVID-19 health data and, as set out in the autumn and winter plan, if the data suggest the NHS is likely to come under unsustainable pressure, the Government has prepared a Plan B for England.
• The Government hopes not to have to implement Plan B, but has set out details now so that the public and businesses know what to expect if further measures become necessary.
• Thanks to the success of the vaccination programme, it should be possible to handle a further resurgence with less damaging measures than the lockdowns and economic and social restrictions deployed in the past.
• The Government would provide prior notice as far as possible to the public and Parliament ahead of implementing any necessary changes in a Plan B scenario.
• The Government’s Plan B prioritises measures which can help control transmission of the virus while seeking to minimise economic and social impacts.

Why is the Government not proceeding with mandatory vaccine certification?

• On 19 July, the Prime Minister served notice that, by the end of September, the Government was planning to make full vaccination a condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather.
• The gap between the announcement and intended implementation has given people sufficient time to receive two doses of a vaccination, and the impact of the use of the NHS COVID Pass is being further assessed through the findings of  the Events Research Programme over the summer.
• Taking into account the latest data on the state of the epidemic, mandatory vaccine‑only certification will not be implemented from the end of September.
• It would, however, be part of the Government’s Plan B if the data suggests action is required to prevent unsustainable pressure on the NHS.