The number of people considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) to COVID-19 and advised to shield has been expanded by an additional 1.7 million.
A new risk assessment takes into account age, pre-existing conditions, ethnicity, BMI and other factors to estimate the risk of serious illness from coronavirus.
New additions to the CEV group have been added to the priority lists for vaccination and the Government has extended the shielding period to 31 March.
Separately, a National Audit Office (NAO) report into the CEV shielding programme says the scheme was set up swiftly, but that several problems arose when compiling the shielded patient list.
These included out-of-date hospital records or missing or inaccurate telephone numbers – meaning some people had to wait weeks before they were able to get deliveries of food or medicines.
The NAO recommended that the Government ensures there is easy, but secure, access to healthcare data, and sets out the key data needed for any future pandemic or civil emergency.
Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils stand ready to do all they can to help people more at risk from COVID-19.
“The expansion of the vaccine priority list and advice for all CEV people to shield until the end of March may cause worry for people and lead to an increase in requests for support.
“It is crucial that councils receive regular access to data and long-term funding so they can reach out to everyone who needs support as quickly as possible.”
