The government will from this month provide a free four-month supply of daily vitamin D supplements for residents in residential and nursing care homes across England to support their health.
The Department of Health and Social care said it likely that care home residents will have stayed indoors more than usual over spring and summer last year as a result of the national restrictions for Covid-19.
Each daily supplement will contain 10 micrograms (400 international units (IU)) of vitamin D.
Residents will be given the choice as to whether they wish to take the vitamin D doses, which will be given in liquid form.
All cases where the nutrient is taken will be recorded in a similar way to other medication.
The government has also issued guidance to care homes so they can ascertain who can take the supplement and other safety information.
