Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when an assessment will have concluded on the effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccine for immunocompromised clinically extremely vulnerable people; and what steps he will take to ensure that those people are not expected to return to work after 31 March 2021 in the event that there is no data on efficacy by that date.

Exact efficacy data for those who are immunocompromised is currently emerging and many unknowns remain. The Government is exploring all avenues available to ensure immunocompromised clinically extremely vulnerable people can be successfully protected against COVID-19.

The Government is currently advising everyone considered clinically extremely vulnerable to shield until 31 March. Any decision to extend or end shielding measures will be decided upon by the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officers and will be based on the latest scientific evidence. Further information will be provided in the coming weeks to all clinically extremely vulnerable people outlining the guidance that they should follow beyond 31 March.