Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 27th April 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on immunocompromised people arising from (1) shutting down the Anti-Viral task force, (2) ending any stakeholder engagement through the Enhanced Protection Programme, (3) withdrawing vaccine boosters for the families of the immunocompromised, (4) ending the collection of data on Covid infections via the Office for National Statistics, and (5) ending access to anti-virals through the Covid Medicines Delivery Units and transferring this to GPs; and what steps they are taking to enhance the protection of the clinically vulnerable community from COVID-19.


Answered by
Lord Markham Portrait
Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 16th May 2023

Those that remain at higher risk from COVID-19 remain a priority for the Government and continue to be offered enhanced protections such as treatments, booster vaccines, free lateral flow tests and public health advice.

Functions of the Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce (ATTF) have now moved to different parts of the Department and the National Health Service. The NHS will continue to deliver treatment for COVID-19 patients and will operate in line with evidence-based recommendations from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, following the established processes in this area.

Following the closure of the enhanced protection programme stakeholder forum, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recognises the importance of continuing to engage with patient charities and other stakeholders, and further information on continuing stakeholder engagement will be shared in due course.

On 27 January 2023 the Government accepted Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) interim advice that there could be a further booster programme in autumn 2023 for those at higher risk of severe COVID-19 in preparation for winter 2023 to 2024. JCVI will continue its rolling review of the vaccination programme and will provide further advice on which groups including carers and family members of immunosuppressed individuals should be included in the autumn 2023 COVID-19 vaccination programme in due course.

The approach to COVID-19 surveillance is being actively reviewed to ensure it is proportionate, cost effective and considered alongside how we monitor a range of other infectious diseases that present a similar threat.

The UKHSA will continue to publish regular reports on COVID-19 which will contribute to our situational awareness. These include our weekly surveillance reports, which provide data on infection rates and hospitalisation numbers. We also maintain the ability to track the latest variants through our genomics capabilities which assess the risks posed by different strains of the virus.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the continued delivery of COVID-19 treatments, including where appropriate transitioning the delivery of community-based COVID-19 treatments away from covid medicines delivery unit to routine care pathways by the end of June. ICBs have the flexibility to create a routine patient access pathway that best meets local needs and circumstances, including for immunocompromised patients.

NHS England is working closely with local health systems, supporting ICBs to develop service delivery plans which ensure continued timely access to assessment and treatment that meet the needs of their local populations. To support the transition away from pandemic-specific arrangements NHS England is regularly engaging with charities, patient groups and other stakeholders to understand where national and local action may be required to ensure transition readiness.

NHS England is providing national communications to patients, healthcare professionals and local system leaders to ensure clarity on upcoming changes.

Highest risk patients will continue to have access to free tests, however the way patients will access tests may change later this year.

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