Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to consult with charities representing clinically vulnerable and immunosuppressed groups as his Department develops its plan for living with covid-19.

We continue to work with charities representing people at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19. Following discussions with charities, we issued updated public health advice on 24 December 2021 which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk

People previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to follow general guidance while considering precautions to reduce the risk of infection. The latest guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19