Recommendation 3

NHS England has started planning for a reduction in vaccine sites and staffing for the rest of 2022 in anticipation of lower overall demand, but it is not yet clear how its strategy will strike the right balance between maintaining high 6 The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine programme in England levels of vaccination uptake and ensuring that demands on healthcare staff are sustainable. In February 2022, NHS England set out requirements for local area planning for the vaccine programme through to March 2023. NHS England says it is encouraging each area to think about the best approach locally both in terms of the right mix of vaccination sites and the right staffing. Overall, it expects a reduction in the number of sites from the 2,900 active at that time. The NAO, the Royal College of Nursing and pharmacy representatives have all highlighted that future staffing is a major risk due to staff burnout and the lack of surplus capacity in the healthcare system more generally. Our own work looking at NHS backlogs and waiting times has highlighted the particular strains on GPs, who delivered around half of all COVID-19 vaccinations up to the end of May 2022. We note that NHS England has already taken some central action to support staff, including the maintenance of national contracts for volunteer responders. Recommendation: By the end of October 2022, NHS England should write to the Committee with the results of its assurance of local plans – particularly with regard to whether these provide an efficient and effective basis for the programme to achieve its aims, while safeguarding staff welfare and aligning with other demands on the NHS. It should also set out any further central actions it will take to address areas of deficiency in the plans. During 2022–23, NHS England working with others should develop clear, costed options for how the programme will ensure both value for money and accessibility in its future approach to COVID-19 vaccination, including who it expects