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Last week, after the NAFD and other members of the Deceased Management Advisory Group made extensive representations to the Cabinet Office and JCVI, we were extremely pleased that frontline funeral workers and mortuary technicians/embalmers were been included in the list of frontline healthcare staff for whom occupational immunisation with the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended in England and Scotland. Northern Ireland followed this week and we expect Wales to do the same imminently.

We have written to the Secretary of State for Health, Vaccine Deployment Minister and others to press home the importance of ensuring that vaccination happens swiftly and effectively and have also written to local resilience forums too. We are already in touch with several LRFs to provide information on their local members and are pleased to hear that some funeral directors have either now received their first dose or appointments are being made for them.

We have much work still to do – but are making progress. The Government and LRFs have asked if funeral firms can please not call their LRF directly about access to the vaccination to avoid the system becoming swamped at a critical time. The vaccinations will be carried out by local health services and firms will be contacted directly with the arrangements in their area.

Please continue to bear with us. We are also pressing Government on access to Lateral Flow Testing to try and reduce staff shortages caused by self-isolation requirements.

For the latest COVID-19 guidance and updates, please visit our dedicated website: nafdcovid19.org.uk