Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to extend the offer of two Covid-19 vaccinations to people aged five on or before 31 August 2022 and over beyond 30 June 2023.

The Government continues to be guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) on who should be offered COVID-19 vaccinations. On 27 January 2023 the Government accepted the advice of the JCVI that the primary course vaccination offer move to a more targeted offer during vaccination campaigns to those at higher risk of severe COVID-19. Therefore, the primary course offer will end with the close of the 2023 spring booster programme, planned for 30 June 2023 in England.

As we live with the virus without restrictions on our freedoms, we will continue to ensure the most vulnerable are protected through a targeted seasonal vaccination offer for those most at risk. At this time the Department does not have plans to extend the offer of two COVID-19 vaccinations to children aged five years old on or before 31 August 2022 and over beyond 30 June 2023. However, an offer will remain in place for those who are at higher risk of COVID-19 and we will continue to be guided by the JCVI on future eligibility.