Government hands out FREE Vitamin D to nearly 3 million vulnerable people to battle Covid
The Government has announced plans to deliver free Vitamin D supplements to nearly three million clinically vulnerable people to help protect against COVID-19. There are concerns among health officials that lockdowns have deprived many of sunshine, which is key to Vitamin D production. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also called for a review into whether the ‘sunshine vitamin’ can reduce the risk of dying from the coronavirus.
GP Sarah Jarvis told BBC Breakfast that the mass free vitamin plan is intended to halt the influx of coronavirus patients intointensive care units this winter.
She singled out people who have been shielding indoors this year as those who would particularly benefit most from the Vitamin D pills.
Dr Jarvis told the BBC: “We have known for a long time that Vitamin D regulates at least a thousand genes in the body, including some that affect your immune system.
“We also know that probably more than 50 percent of the population have insufficient levels during the winter, and that 1 in 6 are severely deficient in the winter and spring.”
