Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 19th January 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish recent advice provided to him by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the next stage of the covid-19 protection strategy in the context of the efficacy depletion rate in protection from vaccines against the Omicron variant.


Answered by
Maggie Throup Portrait
Maggie Throup
This question was answered on 8th March 2022

On 7 January 2022, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published its advice in a statement on the adult COVID-19 booster vaccination programme and the Omicron variant. The JCVI advised that the priority for the booster programme remains increasing the coverage of the first booster dose across the adult population, particularly in older adults and those in clinical risk groups. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-statement-on-the-adult-covid-19-booster-vaccination-programme-and-the-omicron-variant/jcvi-statement-on-the-adult-covid-19-booster-vaccination-programme-and-the-omicron-variant-7-january-2022

The advice was based on evidence that vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation continues to be highly effective at approximately 90% at 10 weeks after one booster dose in those aged 65 years old and older. In addition, it is important that unvaccinated individuals, especially vulnerable adults, receive a primary course of vaccination, irrespective of whether individuals have had previous infection. The JCVI will continue its review of the booster vaccination programme and the timing and value of any second booster doses for the most vulnerable.

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