'COVID-19 vacciation protection for social care staff'

A5 leaflet 'COVID-19 vaccination protection for social care staff', by Public Health England, product code COV2020341V2 2M 1p (APS), 2020

The vaccine roll out in the United Kingdom is based on priority groups. In December 2020, COVID-19 vaccines were first offered to residents in care homes for older adults and their carers, people aged over 80, and frontline health and social care workers. The remaining population is offered the vaccine according to age and existing health conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advise on the priority list and the length between doses (between 3 and twelve weeks). Prior to a vaccine, the only way social care staff could protect themselves was by using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

This leaflet published in December 2020 gives people the information they need to decide whether or not to have the vaccine. At the time, there was little evidence on whether the vaccine would reduce the chance of passing the virus on but it was expected that vaccinated health and care staff would be less likely to pass it on. The leaflet also advised on side effects and if people were pregant, they were advised to wait until after their pregnancy to have the vaccine. This advice later changed following more studies.