Matt Hancock reveals homeless Brits will be bumped up the Covid vaccine priority list

Matt Hancock today revealed homeless people in England will be bumped up the Covid vaccine priority list regardless of their age.

The Health Secretary said the decision — recommended by the UK’s top vaccination advisers — would ‘save more lives among those most at risk in society’. He added it was important ‘nobody gets left behind’. 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises No10 on who should be inoculated, has until now ranked people by their age and whether they have any serious health conditions.

But the expert panel said it was now recommending the homeless were included because they ‘are likely to have health conditions that put them at higher risk of death from Covid’.    

They will be mixed into the sixth priority group in the Government’s top nine, which includes everyone between the ages of 16 and 64 who has a serious health condition.

The JCVI said local NHS leaders can shorten the 12 week dosing regimen if they believe a homeless person is unlikely to show up for their appointment.

Homeless charity Shelter estimates there are around 280,000 people living rough in England. 

It follows an announcement from Wales on Wednesday that it was bumping up homeless people on its priority list. Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to follow suit.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises No10 on who should be inoculated, has until now focused on age and already-ill people

Mr Hancock said: ‘Our vaccination rollout is moving at an incredible speed, with two in every five adults now having received at least one vaccine.

‘It’s so important that nobody gets left behind in this national effort.

‘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 six.

‘This will mean we will save more lives, among those most at risk in society.’ 

The JCVI said people who are homeless should also be offered the vaccine without the need for an NHS number or GP registration.

Its advice doesn’t mean all homeless people must be vaccinated, but gives NHS bosses the flexibility to offer jabs to anyone who is homeless, regardless of their age or health status.

People could be reached by the NHS if they are in emergency accommodation or by local health teams who are already aware of homeless populations.

The original Everyone In national emergency accommodation for homeless people has ended now but some places are still offering homeless people housing during the pandemic.

Others are likely to already be known to health chiefs in their areas, the Department of Health said.  

Professor Wei Shen Lim, JCVI Covid chairman, said: ‘The JCVI’s advice on Covid vaccine prioritisation was developed with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible.

‘People experiencing homelessness are likely to have health conditions that put them at higher risk of death from Covid.

‘This advice will help us to protect more people who are at greater risk, ensuring that fewer people become seriously ill or die from the virus.’

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, welcomed No10’s move to bump homeless people up the vaccine queue. 

He added: ‘But make no mistake, the vaccine will not make homelessness safe. 

‘Whether it is living on the streets, or in cars and sheds, or constantly moving between friends’ sofas, homelessness is extremely damaging to both your physical and mental health. 

‘We desperately need a plan to ensure everyone has a safe and secure home.’

10MILLION-DOSE VACCINE SUPPLY BOOST EXPECTED WITHIN DAYS

Up to 10 million extra vaccine doses could be available to the UK within days following a surge in supply, in another major boost for the country’s vaccine roll-out.

As the number of Britons having had their first Covid jab last night topped 22 million, figures revealed the Scottish Government now has access to around 900,000 unused doses.

Though the Government has so far refused to give data on its vaccine supply, the figure from Scotland, which is given a share of the UK’s total jab stockpile, means the total across Britain could be up to 10 million.

The boost means the UK could increase the rate it gives out second doses, without impacting on the rate it is giving out the first doses. It will also be a boost to hopes that the Government can extend the roll-out to all over 50s later this month.

It comes as Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford last night alleviated fears of over a ‘dip’ in the vaccination.

He told the i newspaper that the dip was now over, as the UK prepares to enter what he described as a ‘crucial stage’ of its jab rollout.

Mr Drakeford said: ‘We are confident that we are past the couple of weeks where there was a dip in supply and we will be getting significantly greater volumes during the month of March.’

Last month the country’s highly-praised vaccination roll-out began to stall after getting off to a rapid start – which put the UK far ahead of its European neighbours.

Just 192,000 people were vaccinated on Monday, February 23 and 142,000 the day before, in two of the lowest daily tolls since the mammoth operation began to gather steam at the start of the year.

Ministers have repeatedly blamed the ‘lumpy’ supply of vaccines as being the ‘rate-limiting factor’ of the programme.

Officials say shrinking deliveries were expected because Pfizer had to improve its key factory in Belgium at the start of the year, and AstraZeneca’s production was slower to get off the ground than planned.

However, both drug giants have insisted that there are no unforeseen issues with the supply chain.

The vaccines boost come as everyone aged 56 and over will be invited for jabs from next Monday, NHS England announced this week.

The over 60s are the group currently top of the vaccine priority list. Last night, the total number of people in the UK to receive their first dose of a Covid jab reached 22.8million.