Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the three eligibility factors for covid-19 vaccinations for young people under 16 who are clinically extremely vulnerable of severe neurodisabilities, recurrent respiratory infections and frequently stays in specialist residential settings, what discussions he has had with representatives of the JCVI on the effect of allowing vaccination in the event that the first two of those eligibility factors have been met and a decision in favour of vaccination has been made by the physician responsible for the patient; and if he will make a statement.

Given the very high risk of exposure to infection and outbreaks in residential settings, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that COVID-19 vaccination may be considered for children with severe neuro-disabilities with recurrent respiratory tract infections and who frequently spend time in specialised residential care settings for children with complex needs.

The JCVI’s advice is that clinicians should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with a person with parental responsibility, who should be told about the position on safety data for the vaccine in children aged under 16 years old. However, the matter of whether to offer vaccination to an individual, whether a child or adult, will ultimately be a decision for the physician responsible for the patient. The JCVI’s advice to the Government is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december-2020