Joint statement on the Autumn/Winter Flu and COVID-19 vaccine rollout for 2023-2024 and beyond

Since the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 has continued to present a great deal of risk to communities and specific health conditions represented by some of National Voices’ members.

We therefore convened a roundtable with our members to discuss the Autumn/Winter Flu and COVID-19 vaccine rollout for 2023-2024, which allowed them to provide insights on behalf of the communities and conditions they represent.

This joint statement, supported by 61 members, is the result of this discussion, and addresses our collective concerns and insights surrounding the rollout. The statement also determines clear actions for the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

These actions include:

• Sharing specialist advice, and allowing VCSE to fill the gaps to input on behalf of their communities
• Creating consistency between rollouts
• Stepping up communicative efforts
• Committing to strengthening data

Taking the actions mapped out in the joint statement would not only reassure communities that their concerns and health are being prioritised, but would relieve pressure on a health and care, and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise workforce, already underfunded, under resourced, and overworked.

Our intention is to maintain discussions with members and continue to raise their insights and concerns with decision-makers; to support and help feed into the current Autumn/Winter 2023, and future vaccine roll outs.