Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

CoronavirusVaccinationsSickness absence managementWellbeing and health promotionOccupational Health

WHO monitoring new Covid variant as NHS vaccination strategy outlined

by Nic Paton 21 Dec 2023
by Nic Paton 21 Dec 2023 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

A new sub-variant of the omicron strain of Covid-19 has been classified as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization because of “its rapidly increasing spread”.

The variant, called JN.1, has been found in a number of countries around the world, including the US, China and India as well as the UK.

However, the risk to the public is currently deemed low, with the current vaccines available continuing to offer protection, the WHO has said.

The UK has rolled out a limited vaccination booster programme this autumn and winter, much less extensive to the one last year that targeted anyone aged over 55.

JN.1 is currently the fastest-growing variant in the United States, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, accounting for 15-29% of infections.

Covid-19

Consider Covid-19 history when screening for HAVS

Covid inquiry: Matt Hancock ‘would have doubled sick pay’

Covid-related illnesses still not recognised as occupational diseases

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said JN.1 currently makes up around 7% of positive Covid tests analysed in its labs.

The news has coincided with NHS England launching a new vaccination strategy. This outlines how the NHS intends to improve vaccination rates within currently under-served communities, support its vaccination workforce, strengthen leadership and use data to increase vaccine uptake and coverage generally in England.

Steve Russell, chief delivery officer and national director for vaccinations and screening at NHS England, said: “I want the publication of this strategy to start a conversation, within integrated care boards (ICBs) and the wider health and care system, about how we can use vaccination to deliver holistic, person-centred, preventative care via flexible teams that span primary and community care as well as other sectors.”

The strategy, he added, was focused on improving access, including an expansion of online services. It was also targeting getting vaccination delivery out into more convenient local places, with targeted outreach to support uptake in underserved populations.

Finally, the strategy was working to develop a more joined-up prevention and vaccination ‘offer’. As Russell put it: “Vaccination services and activities should be holistic, offering multiple vaccinations for the whole family where appropriate, including covid and flu alongside, for example, opportunistic MMR and HPV catch up.

“Multidisciplinary teams could offer wider health advice and interventions such as blood pressure, diabetes and heart checks, or mental health and dental information,” he said.

Dr Fernanda Aguilar Perez, policy executive at the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), broadly welcomed the new strategy.

However, she highlighted that considerable differences in perceptions of vaccines still exist among children and young people of Asian, Black and mixed ethnic backgrounds.

“Having vaccine programmes which acknowledge there is no one-size-fits-all approach and which is tailored to underserved populations’ needs can better support these children.

“Previous RSPH research with parents revealed that many did not take their children to be vaccinated at GP clinics because appointment timings conflicted with their working hours, demonstrating again the importance of convenience to vaccination programmes,” she said.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

 

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consultant editor at Personnel Today. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for Personnel Today and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Stroke carers need support for anxiety, depression and PTSD – study
next post
Government urged to put more money into OH to tackle long-term sickness

You may also like

Young people are less work-ready, say employers

7 May 2025

Five years on: how has work changed since...

12 Mar 2025

Ramadan in the workplace: top tips for employers

21 Feb 2025

Hospital porter who refused to wear mask fairly...

2 Jan 2025

RSPH urging at risk to get vaccinated as...

6 Dec 2024

CPD activities: Learning from the experiences of working...

5 Dec 2024

CPD: Exploring the experiences of working from home...

5 Dec 2024

Delivering occupational health policies in prisons during the...

2 Sep 2024

BA’s associative discrimination appeal dismissed by EAT

16 Aug 2024

Who will be eligible for NHS covid jabs...

2 Aug 2024

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today