A recent report reveals that residents in Lancashire are facing a lack of public health advice regarding the option to pay for a Covid vaccine if they do not fall within the eligible groups for a free shot through the NHS. The current spring booster season, which is coming to an end, marks the first time during the pandemic that Covid vaccines have been available for purchase privately.
Initially, the booster vaccine was offered to all individuals over the age of 16 in late 2021. However, eligibility for biannual top-ups has become increasingly restricted. The current spring booster is exclusively accessible to individuals over 75, care home residents, and those with compromised immune systems. Notably, frontline health and care workers, as well as household carers, are excluded from this round, unlike the previous autumn booster.
Concerns regarding waning immunity, combined with the ongoing emergence of new Covid variants, are believed to be contributing to recurrent waves of infections that are receiving minimal public attention. Recent testing data indicates the onset of a new wave of infections, even during the summer months.
While the severity of Covid infections during the acute phase has decreased for most individuals post-vaccination, it remains a contributing factor in the deaths of 4,443 individuals this year. Additionally, two million people in the UK are reported to be experiencing Long Covid symptoms, with studies highlighting an elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes following a Covid infection.
Earlier this year, private Covid vaccines became available in the UK, allowing individuals not eligible for an NHS jab to purchase one at a pharmacy, similar to the annual flu shot. Prices for private Covid vaccines range approximately from £50 to £100. Despite this option, the Lancashire authorities overseeing public health, in conjunction with local and national NHS bodies, have not provided guidance on the acquisition of private Covid vaccines.
Dr. Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire’s public health director, emphasized that the spring booster for Covid-19 is exclusively offered for free to individuals at higher risk of severe illness from the virus. While not actively promoted or recommended for other groups, the vaccine may be accessible in select pharmacies, akin to the flu vaccine, allowing individuals to make a personal decision.
When approached for comments, Blackburn with Darwen Council redirected inquiries to the government’s Department for Health, while Blackpool Council referred questions to Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System.
