SUPPLEMENTS

Full list of people who will receive free vitamin D supplements from 2021

The UK Government will be giving vulnerable people free vitamin D supplements from January to protect against vitamin deficiency.  The announcement was made as more than 2.5 million people in England are considered to be high risk and they will be given the chance to opt in for a supply to their homes by letter.  The free deliveries will start in January, providing four months worth of vitamin D, reports Manchester Evening News.  Public Health England (PHE) advises everyone to take 10 microgrammes of vitamin D per day between October and early March.  From about late March to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from natural sunlight.  Additionally, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures, many may have a higher risk of a vitamin D deficiency.  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.”  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.  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”.  Its chief executive Craig Jones said: “While more evidence is needed to confirm its role in boosting immunity to respiratory infections, vitamin D is already proven to play a major role in keeping muscles and bone healthy.  “People’s natural levels of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight will be lower right now, due to shorter daylight hours and less time spent outdoors during lockdown.  “As a result, the risk of falls and broken bones may be increasing for people with the fragile bone condition osteoporosis during the course of the pandemic.  “That’s why we recommend everyone takes a 10 microgram (400IU) vitamin D supplement at least during the winter to improve bone health, ideally combined with a balanced healthy diet and regular physical activity, even in people’s gardens.”  People on the clinically extremely vulnerable list will be offered a free supply of vitamin D from the government.   According to the NHS, People at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) may be at high risk from coronavirus if they: have had an organ tr