People with epilepsy will not be automatically eligible for a COVID booster vaccine this spring.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that only people who have a weakened immune system will be able to get the booster. Also eligible are people 75 years and older and residents of care homes for older adults.
People with epilepsy fall within the ‘clinical risk’ category of ‘chronic neurological disease’ in the UK government COVID-19 Greenbook. The Greenbook offers guidance on policies, programmes and projects.
But the DHSC and UKHSA say ‘clinical risk’ is separate from the ‘immunosuppressed’ category.
Daniel Jennings, senior policy and campaigns officer at Epilepsy Action, said: “It’s extremely disappointing to learn that people with epilepsy are no longer automatically eligible for the COVID vaccine.
“We know that for many people with epilepsy, the vaccine gave peace of mind and an extra barrier of protection against COVID – which is a still a very real worry and risk.
“This news is especially surprising following the recent report we’ve worked on together with Swansea University which found that people with epilepsy had a higher risk of being hospitalised or dying from COVID.
“The Department of Health and Social Care needs to do more to support people with epilepsy and we hope the decision to stop automatic eligibility of the COVID booster vaccine is reconsidered.”
The UKHSA explains the criteria in a blog on the government website.
There is more information on the NHS website.
