GPs told to use army if needed to vaccinate everyone in England's care homes by end of the week

GPs have been told by NHS England to give the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents and in England’s care homes by the end of the week and use the military if needed to get the job done.

A letter sent to GPs highlighted that a rising rate of infections and the arrival of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine had prompted NHS England to bring forward the vaccination deadline for care homes to Sunday 17 January - and at the very latest 24 January.

The letter signed by Dr Nikita Kanani, NHS England’s medical director for Primary Care, stated: ‘We are therefore expecting all PCN local vaccination services to administer the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to care home residents and staff in the older adult care homes for which the PCN is responsible by the end of this week wherever possible and, at the latest, by the end of next week (Sunday 24 January).’

'Make use of military'

NHS England's letter also advised army doctors should be brought into care homes, if needed, to meet the deadline.

'For those areas with significant gaps in their projected care home vaccination coverage, and where additional support is required, there is also the option to make use of military clinical teams, which are coordinated at a national level' the letter stated.

NHS England had originally said that GPs would need to vaccinate a total of 248,581 residents across almost 11,000 care homes in England by the end of January but the rising number of cases in care homes has led to the new care home deadline.

In England, there were 824 COVID-19 deaths in care homes and 376 care home residents deaths in hospitals and other settings in the week ending 8 January.

In the letter, Dr Nikita Kanani said: 'With the increased rate and spread of infections, the need to ensure that these cohorts are vaccinated as the top priority is higher than ever. For every 20 vaccinations in the care homes resident cohort, one death is potentially preventable'.

Vaccination 'should still take place in care homes with outbreaks'

On the subject of care home outbreaks, NHS England's letter stated: 'We are aware of there being some uncertainty around vaccination in care homes where there are COVID-19 cases or an outbreak.

'However vaccination should still take place in care homes with outbreaks. Whilst vaccination against COVID may be temporarily deferred in some individuals e.g. acutely unwell or still within four weeks of onset of COVID symptoms, all other staff and care home residents in a care home where an outbreak is occurring must receive prompt COVID vaccination'.

NHS England said that GPs should work extended hours to meet the deadline.

It also announced a tripling of the top-up fee given to PCN groups for every resident vaccinated. First doses delivered in a care home from 14 December 2020 to the end of Sunday 17 January will be eligible for an extra payment of £30 instead of the £10 fee for COVID first doses, 'to ensure the fastest possible coverage of care homes'.