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Homeless people will be prioritised for coronavirus vaccinations alongside adults in at-risk groups, the government has said.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said the decision would “save more lives among those most at risk in society”.
It comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which said those experiencing rough-sleeping or homelessness were likely to have underlying health conditions and should be offered vaccinations alongside those in priority group six.
“The JCVI’s advice on Covid-19 vaccine prioritisation was developed with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible,” Professor Wei Shen Lim, the JCVI’s Covid-19 chair, said.
“People experiencing homelessness are likely to have health conditions that put them at higher risk of death from Covid-19.
He added: “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.”
Mr Hancock said on Thursday he had accepted the JCVI’s recommendation and it was “important” that nobody gets “left behind” in the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.
“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,” he said.
This priority group is made up of adults between 16 and 65 years old who are in an at-risk group, with all those aged 65 or over in priority group five.
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