Guidance

Vitamin D supplements: how to take them safely

Guidance for at-risk groups offered free vitamin D supplements by the government this winter.

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This page has been withdrawn because it’s no longer current. Read more about living safely with coronavirus (COVID-19).

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This guidance accompanies the Department of Health and Social Care’s initiative to offer a free 4-month supply of vitamin D supplements to support general health, and in particular bone and muscle health.

This information is suitable for anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable and has been offered a free supply of vitamin D supplements in England from January 2021.

The guidance explains:

  • who should opt in
  • how the supplements should be consumed and stored

Read this document in full before you decide whether to opt in and start taking the vitamin D supplements offered to you.

If you’ve read the guidance and would like to opt in, you’ll need to register your details between 30 November 2020 and 21 February 2021 at nhs.uk/get-vitamin-d.

Published 28 November 2020
Last updated 12 January 2021 + show all updates
  1. Updated page details.To opt-in you need to register your details on the NHS website by 21 February 2021.

  2. Added translated versions in Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, Gujarati, Hindi, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi and Urdu.

  3. Added that you should not opt in to receive the vitamin D supplement if you are already taking, or are prescribed, a medication that contains vitamin D by your GP or healthcare professional.

  4. First published.