COVID-19: Preparing for the future Looking ahead to winter 2021/22 and beyond
Despite a highly successful vaccination campaign in the UK, the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is not over, and we are currently seeing rapidly rising
infection rates. While there is an understandable and intense desire for ‘normality’ to
return, we need to sustain our efforts to limit the transmission and impacts of the virus,
particularly for the most vulnerable, for the longer term. To prepare for the winter period
and beyond, the priorities over the summer period must be to:
● Maximise the speed and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in all eligible age
groups, and prepare for possible booster vaccines in priority groups and
vaccination against influenza later in the year.
● Increase the ability of people with COVID-19 to self-isolate through
financial and other support, with a particular focus on those in areas of persistent
transmission and in the lowest socio-economic groups.
● Boost capacity in the NHS (staff and beds) to: build resilience against future
outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, including through
improving infection prevention and control (IPC), increasing vaccination and
testing capacity for COVID-19 and influenza, adequately resourcing primary care,
and reducing the backlog of non-COVID-19 care.
● Provide clear guidance about environmental and behavioural precautions (such
as the use of face coverings, ventilation and physical distancing) that individuals
and organisations can take to protect themselves and others, especially those
who are most vulnerable from infection.