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Last updated: 15 March 2024

Guidance for COVID-19 testing and vaccination in homelessness settings (as of March 2024)

Testing

  • From April 2024 onwards, the UKHSA will no longer supply free COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests to settings in England for use in the event of a suspected outbreak of COVID-19. (An outbreak is defined as 2 or more linked cases of COVID-19 within 14 days.)
  • Due to infection, prevention, and control measures as well as access to COVID-19 Treatments, all suspected COVID-19 outbreaks will now be managed like other acute respiratory infections.
  • Where appropriate, homelessness services should contact Health Protection Teams or other local partners who may, as part of outbreak management, undertake a risk assessment to advise whether testing using PCR tests is required.

More guidance on COVID-19 can be found on the government website.

Vaccination

  • Both the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccination and the first booster remain available. For more information about the vaccine and for ways to support vaccine uptake, see our toolkit.
  • Vaccination can be offered to people without an NHS number and those who are not registered with a GP.
  • In Spring 2024, a COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and individuals aged over 6 months who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)

Further Advice and Resources

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