Thread by @GillianSmith16

It is > 7 months since the JCVI published guidance on the Autumn 2025 #COVID19 booster programme which would restrict entitlement to a vaccine dose restricted to people over 75, immunosuppressed people and residents of care homes for the elderly. 1/
gov.uk/government/pub…

The government has not endorsed the proposals to date despite pressure to reject them. What is going on? - are the just sitting on it until it’s too late to procure vaccines necessary for a bigger programme - my MP has written to DHSC 2/

JCVI ignore the evidence that Covid-19 remains a significant threat to the health of people with severe respiratory diseases, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular conditions, and other chronic health issues - people who would not get a free jab in the Autumn 3/

A focus on very narrow criteria of preventing hospitalisations / deaths and a failure to take into account the wider range of health, social and economic benefits of vaccinating a bigger percentage of the population; 4/

Covid-19 vaccination has been shown to reduce the chances of developing Long Covid yet no account is taken of the increasing evidence of the costs to the economy (many billions of pounds) of the growing incidence of Long Covid and withdrawal from the labour market 5/

No account is taken of the demonstrated positive impacts that vaccinating pregnant women has on the health of new born and very young babies. Babies under 6 months are more likely to be admitted to hospital with Covid-19 than v old people 6/
theconversation.com/the-uk-is-no-l…

As usual the JCVI committee deliberations assume people exist in a vacuum and says nothing on how Covid-19 spreads to cv/cev people. This is particularly pertinent to me. 7/

as a household member of someone who is at significant risk I am no longer entitled to a free booster and risk spreading the virus. Yet the person I live with will receive a free boost even though they mount little or no protective response to Covid-19 vaccines. It's crazy 8/

The failure to vaccinate healthcare workers will further undermine confidence that healthcare is safe to access. It will also only serve to fuel sickness absence in the NHS at a time when staff are significantly stretched - it would only serve to lengthen waiting lists 9/

The JCVI paper is thin, partial - ignores most of the evidence on the benefits of boosters. It is a mystery why criteria for a free Covid-19 jab do not mirror those in place for the annual influenza vaccine programme. Please reject the JCVI advice @wesstreeting @AshleyDalton_MP

@wesstreeting @AshleyDalton_MP @threadreaderapp unroll please