Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the proportion of special school staff who have received the covid-19 vaccine; and what steps he is taking to ensure that staff can access vaccinations as soon as possible.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regularly discusses a range of issues with Cabinet colleagues including the COVID-19 vaccine programme.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) identified frontline health and care staff as priority for vaccination. For social care workers, local authority Directors of Adult Social Services should identify those eligible for vaccination among frontline social care workers who work closely and regularly with those who are clinically vulnerable to COVID-19. In addition, if a special school staff member is identified as being in one of the other at risk cohorts, they will be contacted by the National Health Service at the appropriate time based on the JCVI’s advice.