Free supply of winter Vitamin D to vulnerable

More than two-and-a-half million vulnerable people across England will be offered free Vitamin D supplements for the winter, the Government has announced.

All care homes will automatically receive a provision for their residents, while individuals on the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable list will receive a letter inviting them to ‘opt in’ for a supply to be delivered to their homes. Deliveries will be free of charge, starting in January.

The supplements will support general health, in particular bone and muscle health. This is particularly important this year as these individuals are more likely to have been indoors for extended periods due to measures introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Evidence of the link of Vitamin D to Covid-19 is still being researched, with larger scale trials needed.

Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, 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 a 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. A number of studies indicate Vitamin D might have a positive impact in protecting against Covid-19.

“I have asked NICE and PHE to re-review the existing evidence on the link between Covid-19 and Vitamin D to ensure we explore every potential opportunity to beat this virus.”