Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) investigate reports that GPs have been refusing to register people whose immigration status is yet to be decided for a covid-19 vaccination and (b) ensure that every adult, regardless of immigration status, is able to register for a covid-19 vaccination.

The General Practice COVID-19 vaccination programme 2020/21 Enhanced Service Specification (the contract under which general practices deliver COVID-19 vaccinations) enables practices to vaccinate unregistered patients within their eligible priority cohort, therefore increasing accessibility.

Different types of vaccination delivery are being used to help to make access easier for all groups, regardless of immigration status. Pop-up and walk-in services, in particular, continue to be very successful.

NHS England and NHS Improvement continues to remind General Practitioners (GPs) regularly about the need to vaccinate everyone in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation eligible population, regardless of immigration status or whether they are registered with a GP. The most recent reminder was sent on the 20 July and also contains useful references and signposts to support materials.

NHS England and NHS Improvment advise that they escalate any reports and evidence of inappropriate registration refusals to local commissioners so that these can be investigated and addressed directly with GP practices to ensure registration decisions are made in line with national guidance.