24 February 2021
Public Health England has produced the Green Book as the definitive guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine. This guidance was developed alongside advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which advises all UK health departments on immunisation.
The Green Book (14a pg. 12) clearly states professions working directly with patients in both NHS and independent settings are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
This includes staff who have frequent face-to-face clinical contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care in either secondary or primary care/community settings.
This includes doctors, dentists, midwives and nurses, paramedics and ambulance staff, pharmacists, optometrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and radiographers.
The BPS has been in touch directly with the NHS and they have confirmed that psychologists are also included.
It should also include those working in independent, voluntary and non-standard healthcare settings such as hospices, and community-based mental health or addiction services.
Patient-facing psychologists should not be turned away if they do not work in an NHS setting.
The guidance is clear above that independent/private/contracted/locum sector staff are also eligible for the vaccine.
Some independent / third sector organisations have already been contacted by their local vaccination leads or through the NHSE/I Independent Providers group regarding access to vaccination for staff completing front line work.
Staff working in an Independent Provider organisations are encouraged to contact their Human Resource department in the first instance.
Where organisations have not already linked into local systems, HR leads or sole traders can contact the central email address for vaccination enquiries for their Integrated Care System area or via the NHS online service for managing and booking your vaccination,
Psychologists should indicate their site address so that staff can be booked into the most appropriate vaccination delivery point in that area.