Government to offer 2.5m people in England free Vitamin D supply over winter

28 November 2020, 00:22

The Government is to offer free Vitamin D pills to the most vulnerable
The Government is to offer free Vitamin D pills to the most vulnerable. Picture: PA Images
Ewan Quayle

By Ewan Quayle

Over 2.5 million at-risk people in England will be offered a free supply of vitamin D by the Government, officials have confirmed.

Care homes in the country will automatically receive supplies of the supplement for their residents in plans announced on Saturday, and those clinically extremely vulnerable will be offered the chance to opt in for a supply to their homes.

A letter will be sent to households eligible for the supply in the coming weeks, an official said.

Free deliveries will start in January, providing four months worth of vitamin D to up to 2.7 million people.

Read more: Public Health England reveals high-priority list for Covid-19 vaccine

Read more: Covid-19 crisis in numbers: LBC brings you the stats you need to know

Public Health England (PHE) advises everyone to take 10 microgrammes of vitamin D per day between October and early March, particularly the elderly, people who do not go outside and those with dark skin.

Vitamin D is often referred to as the sunshine vitamin because, from about late March to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight.

New Covid restrictions: Who is in what tier and what does it mean?

The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors, but between October and early March people do not get enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Due to lockdown measures, many may have a higher risk of a vitamin D deficiency which cause severe mood changes, fatigue and weaken bones.

Read more: 'Substantial mixing' of people over Christmas could cause 'large increase' in Covid cases

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: "Because of the incredible sacrifices made by the British people to control the virus, many of us have spent more time indoors this year and could be deficient in vitamin D.

"The Government is taking action to ensure vulnerable individuals can access a free supply to last them through the darker winter months.

"This will support their general health, keep their bones and muscles healthy and crucially reduce the pressure on our NHS."

Many Brits will not get enough sunlight as usual due to Covid fears
Many Brits will not get enough sunlight as usual due to Covid fears. Picture: PA Images

Anyone who can purchase vitamin D supplements is advised to start taking them now, even if eligible for a delivery next year.

Research is ongoing to investigate the link between vitamin D and Covid-19 protection, including a project at Queen Mary University investigating if correcting people's vitamin D deficiencies over winter can reduce the risk and/or severity of Covid-19 and other acute respiratory infections.

Read more: Landlord frustrated after pub half-a-mile away opens while his shuts under Tier system

Mr Hancock has asked PHE and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to re-review existing evidence on the link between vitamin D and Covid-19 "to ensure we explore every potential opportunity to beat this virus".

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million given knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing experience of growing up with his alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail