By Covid-19 vaccine priority list revealed
A draft priority list has been published, showing who is most likely to be first in line for a Covid-19 vaccine when it becomes available in the UK.
This comes as one in five British people reveal that they intend to refuse the vaccine when it becomes available, according to a survey by University College London.
The government’s Joint Committee On Vaccination And Immunisation have recommended implementing an age-based system to determine who gets priority.
A spokesperson for the committee said:
“Whether health and social care workers should be prioritised above, alongside, or below, persons at highest risk from Covid-19 would depend on the characteristics of the vaccines when they become available and the epidemiology of disease at the time of delivery.”
The provisional priority list begins with adults in residential and care homes, as well as care home workers.
It continues as follows:
2. All those 80 years of age and over and health and social care workers
3. All those 75 years of age and over
4. All those 70 years of age and over
5. All those 65 years of age and over
6. High-risk adults under 65 years of age
7. Moderate-risk adults under 65 years of age
8. All those 60 years of age and over
9. All those 55 years of age and over
10. All those 50 years of age and over
11. Rest of the population (priority to be determined)
Study authors at University College London said that this suggests a substantial and worrying level of misinformation among the public, that “lacks any basis in fact”.
Dr Daisy Fancourt, from UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, added:
“Our study highlights a concerning level of misinformation around vaccines, which could significantly affect uptake once a Covid-19 vaccine is approved.
“Whilst the majority of people have said they are likely to get a Covid-19 vaccine once one is available, a worrying amount of respondents have said that not only will they not get the vaccine, but that they don’t believe vaccines work or worry about potential side-effects, concerns that lack any basis in fact.
“It is critical the Government and public health bodies publicise the importance of getting a vaccination, and explain why it will be critical in fighting the virus and protecting society.”
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