The NHS has set out an ambitious vaccination strategy to ensure millions more people receive vaccinations to protect against a variety of diseases. The strategy focuses on improving community outreach and refinement of the NHS app. Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, said ‘our vision for the future of vaccinations published today sets out how we plan to build on this huge success and save even more lives.’
The new planoutlines how the NHS plans to provide more opportunities for millions to receive protective vaccinations. It’s the first time a strategy has brought together multiple vaccination programmes, in an attempt to streamline the programme to fit around people’s lives.
The NHS plans to utilise the NHS app. Expansion plans include improved access to medical records, including vaccinations, and improved booking features. Parents will also have the ability to view their child’s vaccination status on the app. Pritchard said: ‘Through the NHS app, we’ll make sure booking a jab can be as easy as booking a cab so millions more people can get vaccinated – users will be able to access their full vaccine status in a matter of seconds and book jabs with a simple swipe and tap.’
The new strategy also stresses the importance of going into the community, particularly to reach areas where vaccine uptake is low. It builds on community work carried out with COVID-19 vaccines, such as pop-up clinics and administering vaccines in people’s homes. The NHS hopes that this will assist in reaching both children and vulnerable people in areas with low levels of vaccinated people. Steve Russell, National Director for Vaccinations and Screening for NHS England, said: ‘Our plan includes taking vaccines into the heart of communities where we see lower uptake rates, so offering vaccines at pop-up clinics and health hubs in shopping centres, and local schools teams going into parents’ evenings to address barriers to people consenting to their child’s vaccinations.’
The Vaccination strategy will become part of a ‘one-stop shop’ that expands on the NHS offer for blood pressure tests and other health checks and advice. Plans will be put in place over the next few years. Russell said: ‘We want to see even more people supported to take up the offer of lifesaving vaccinations – it’s the best way to protect you and those around you from illnesses which can be fatal.’