Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to commence a nation-wide covid-19 booster vaccine programme in autumn 2022.
On 19 May 2022, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published its interim advice on an autumn COVID-19 vaccination booster programme. This stated that a COVID-19 vaccine should be offered in autumn 2022 to residents in a care home for older adults and staff; frontline health and social care workers; all those 65 years old and over; and adults aged 16 to 64 years old in a clinical risk group. The JCVI is considering the vaccination of other groups and the definitions of clinical risk groups. The JCVI's final advice on eligibility for the autumn programme is expected in due course.