Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether UK residents who are in the UK on Tier Visas will be eligible to be vaccinated under the UK covid-19 vaccination programme in line with Government guidelines for priority of vaccination.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have advised that phase one of the COVID-19 vaccination programme should be targeted at reducing mortality, as well as protecting health and social care staff and systems. As a result, vaccines have first been prioritised to care home residents and staff, followed by people aged 80 years old and above and health and social care workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors.

Entitlement to free National Health Service treatment is generally based on ordinary residence in the United Kingdom. A person who can show they have taken up ordinary residence in the UK can access all NHS services immediately, including COVID-19 vaccinations in line with the guidelines on prioritisation. This will be on a free of charge basis. It is recommended those who have not done so already should apply to register with a general practitioner practice near where they now live.