Care Homes Remain Priority as Wales Narrows COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for Autumn 2025
Care home operators across Wales can expect continued priority access to COVID-19 vaccinations this autumn, as the Welsh Government announces significant changes to its vaccination strategy for 2025.
The national COVID-19 vaccination programme, running from 1 October 2025 to 31 January 2026, will maintain full eligibility for all residents in care homes for older adults, even as overall programme eligibility narrows considerably compared to previous years.
Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the autumn 2025 programme will operate as a standalone initiative, separate from the flu vaccination programme. However, care homes should continue to maximise opportunities for co-administration where clinically appropriate.
The programme now focuses exclusively on three high-risk groups:
- Adults aged 75 years and over
- All residents in care homes for older adults
- Immunosuppressed individuals aged 6 months and over
This represents a significant reduction from previous autumn campaigns, with care home residents maintaining their protected status as a priority cohort.
The Welsh Government has expressed particular concern about declining vaccination rates, setting an ambitious 75% uptake target across all eligible groups. Recent data reveals troubling trends, with immunosuppressed individuals showing uptake rates below 24% in the last winter campaign.
Health boards have been instructed to develop “robust delivery plans” with remedial action required where targets are not being met. The expectation is for high coverage levels to be achieved by mid-December, with all eligible individuals receiving their first appointment invitation by 31 December at the latest.
Care providers in deprived areas should be aware of significant equity gaps in vaccination coverage. The 2024-25 campaign showed a stark 24-percentage-point difference between the most deprived areas (33.6% uptake) and the least deprived (57.6% uptake).
Health boards have been directed to “act significantly” to reduce these disparities, with particular focus on minimising patient burden, including travel requirements for accessing vaccination services.
Action Points for Care Providers
Care home managers should:
- Prepare for programme commencement on 1 October
- Coordinate with local health boards for resident vaccination scheduling
- Consider co-administration opportunities with flu vaccines
- Ensure accurate resident eligibility records are maintained
- Plan for potential “mop-up” activities extending into early 2026
The Welsh Government emphasises that “every eligible person in Wales” should be able to access vaccination “as easily as possible,” with health boards expected to minimise barriers for care home residents.
Care providers requiring additional guidance should refer to the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book on gov.uk or contact their local health board vaccination teams.
