Stay Awesome

COVID-19

Find most of the information you need in these resources

Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!

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Keeping up to date: Things to know in practice currently:

  • Quick reminder: Spikevax LP.8.1 has a maximum 30‑day refrigerated shelf life once thawed. Because distribution uses some of this time, deliveries will have fewer than 30 days remaining.

  • NHSE has now published the GP additional guidance for seasonal vaccinations 2026/27. This provides information on recording COVID-19 and influenza vaccination events and payments, including where practices are collaborating in their PCNs. In previous years this guidance has only covered the influenza programme. For 2026/27 it has been expanded to cover both the COVID-19 and influenza programmes.

  • 13th April 2026: The COVID Spring boosters have begun! Good luck with your clinics :-) NHS England uses the most recent records to invite those eligible for vaccination but, as you are probably finding, information in these records may no longer be relevant if the health condition has resolved or the diagnosis or medicines have changed. Remember to encourage people to check if they are eligible before booking by checking the list on the NHS.uk website.

  • 1st April 2026: Goodbye National Protocols! Hello Vaccine Group Directions! What am I on about? A very useful webinar explaining this in detail can be found at the bottom of this page on SPS. And here is the COVID-19 one!! Get a brew and a biscuit before you click the link.

  • 25th March 2026: Wondering why there is no protocol yet? Soon we will say goodbye to National Protocols and a new legal mechanism is coming our way - the VGD. Read all about it here.

  • 19th March 2026: New COVID-19 vaccine posters!

  • 18th March 2026: Green book chapter update alert!! COVID-19. Updated vaccine information (types, storage, administrations and dosing) for the Spring 2026 campaign. Sections of the chapter have been restructured for easier use (PHEW!).

  • 17th March 2026: ELfHC module updated, ready for April! Check it out if delivering COVID-19 vaccines. PGD also ready to go.

  • 23rd Feb 2026: Moderna’s 2-in-1 flu and COVID vaccine shows encouraging results in small trial

  • 19th Jan 2026: Updated versions of the GP and community pharmacy seasonal vaccination service specifications have been published. These have been updated to reflect changes to the COVID-19 vaccine ordering process, and new terminology for patients who may require a COVID-19 vaccination outside of usual campaign timing.

  • 19th Dec: COVID-19 Green Book Chapter updated. (Very small change of citation)

  • 15th Dec 2025: Service specification is out for community pharmacy seasonal vaccination services – COVID-19 and influenza vaccination advanced services. For the first time the COVID-19 and adult influenza vaccination service specifications have been combined into one document, although contractors can still sign up to deliver adult influenza vaccinations only. Also JCVI advice has been accepted on spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccination programme. Basically - it's the same eligibility as 2025.

  • 20th October: Well this is an intriguing title: COVID mRNA vaccines may be able to train immune system to attack cancer cells, boost survival

  • 20th Oct: A reminder of some useful public facing resources you can order for FREE for COVID-19 - leaflets and stickers.

  • 13th October 2025: The SIREN study has been investigating SARS-CoV-2 infections and acute respiratory illness in healthcare workers since 2020, and providing vital research into the immune response to infection and vaccination. New published papers have been added.

  • 11th October: There has been some confusion about the eligibility changes, particularly among people that can get the flu vaccine but may not be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine this year. The following has been done in response:

  • National flu booking service (NBS) wording has been updated so it is clearer that some people eligible for the flu vaccine may not be able to also get the COVID-19 vaccination due to the eligibility changes

  • Direct communications have been sent to people under 75 with NBS booked COVID-19 appointments to check their eligibility

  • Changes are being made to future national direct communications

  • Communication materials are available including posters, digital display screens, social media materials and an explainer document via the Campaign Resource Centre.

I like this line from the June JCVI minutes: "Internationally, similarly low levels of COVID-19 activity had been seen across the winter. It was suggested that the stability of the recent epidemiology might reflect the slowing in viral evolution of SARS-CoV-2". Phew! COVID-19 seems to be losing momentum! (a bit like me towards the end of the school holidays). Another important thing mentioned in those minutes was that the two most recent vaccination campaigns had taken place after significant peaks in hospitalisations, as such indicating a possible misalignment of timing of vaccination with peaks in disease. HEADS UP: It was proposed that year-round vaccination, with individuals receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine twice a year, every six months, might be an alternative model for vaccine delivery. Benefits of a year-round delivery model were highlighted as;

  • Regular supply of vaccine which could change as a new product, such as an updated variant vaccine, became available

  • More outreach work could be undertaken to improve uptake in population groups with lower vaccine coverage throughout the year

  • Less disruption on routine healthcare services

  • The potential to vary or extend the interval between vaccination, depending on vaccine effectiveness estimates and cost-effectiveness analysis.

  • A year-round delivery model might facilitate more frequent vaccination for immunosuppressed individuals.

Well they are some good arguments, but they are undecided as of yet.

  • 7th July 2025: New Covid strain spreads across UK with unique symptom. The XFG and XFG.3 variants currently account for around 30 percent of Covid-19 cases in England. Feeling hoarse? Could it be stratus?...

  • 4th June: Cumulative uptake for the spring 2025 vaccination campaign, as of the 4th June 2025, was 55% in adults 75 years of age and over, and 23% in individuals under 75 years (including individuals who were immunosuppressed). Most campaigns plateaued in uptake between eight and twelve weeks after beginning.

  • 6th Feb 2025: Updated resources: Safety of COVID-19 vaccines when given in pregnancy - Guidance for health professionals to share with pregnant women immunised with COVID-19 vaccines.

  • 8th October 2024: Vaccine update landed! In there it highlighted that last year’s data shows that those who received a COVID-19 vaccine were around 45% less likely to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19, compared to those who did not receive one. But protection wanes 3 to 6 months following vaccination. That is why for those who are most vulnerable, we must keep going with those booster doses for the most vulnerable groups.

Other useful links and further reading:
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Campaign Resources

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Increasing uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations for vulnerable groups of patients - VERY USEFUL GUIDANCE (not just for COVID-19 if you read with an open mind)

Want to geek out? Go deeper here:
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social distancing during lockdowns
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What Is COVID-19 Anyway?

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a novel coronavirus first identified in 2019. It rapidly led to a global pandemic, causing widespread illness, disruption, and over 6 million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2024). While milder in many people today, COVID-19 still poses a significant risk to certain populations—particularly the elderly and immunocompromised.

What Happens If You Catch It?

  • COVID-19 affects people very differently. Symptoms can range from mild cold-like illness to life-threatening pneumonia, sepsis, and long COVID:

  • Common symptoms: cough, fever, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, headache, sore throat

  • Severe illness: difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, low oxygen levels

  • Long COVID: fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, and other symptoms persisting for months

  • As of mid-2025, most severe cases occur in unvaccinated individuals or those with reduced immune response.

How Does It Spread?

Primarily via respiratory droplets and aerosols—talking, coughing, sneezing, and even just breathing in close quarters. Also spreads via contaminated hands and surfaces, especially in indoor or poorly ventilated environments.

Does Getting It Make You Immune?

Infection does provide some immunity, but this wanes over time, and new variants can bypass earlier protection. Vaccination boosts both infection and severe disease protection, especially against newer variants.

Can It Be Treated?

Yes—for higher-risk cases. Options include:

  • Antivirals: e.g. nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®), remdesivir

  • Monoclonal antibodies: limited use as resistance patterns change

  • Supportive care: oxygen, fluids, anticoagulants, ICU if needed

  • Treatment is most effective when started early after symptom onset.

Who’s Most at Risk?

  • Adults aged 65+

  • People with chronic conditions (diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease)

  • Immunocompromised individuals

Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation

Did you know....

About 40% of people with COVID-19 have moderate symptoms and non-severe pneumonia, 15% have significant disease including severe pneumonia, and 5% experience critical disease with life-threatening complications.

So far, no-one has been able to identify the animal which led to human infection with the 2019 coronavirus -but there are reports that SARS-CoV-2 is most similar to that of bat coronaviruses.

The European Centre for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 1000 people die prematurely when infected with influenza. For COVID-19 the current estimates suggest that 10 in 1000 infected people will die from the disease in high-income countries. Handy statistic to know for those who say "I'll have my Flu jab but not that COVID-19 one".