Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to NHS England's publication entitled NHS vaccination strategy, published on 13 December 2023, whether she plans to issue guidance to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on the best practice for administering vaccinations for individuals with weakened immune systems.

Eligibility for vaccination programmes is determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) rather than the National Health Service or individual vaccinators. NHS England or JCVI may issue guidance on administering vaccines to certain groups and individuals including those who are immunocompromised. Training standards in vaccine administration will continue to be set by the UK Health Security Agency, and employers will be responsible for training their staff in accordance with these standards. In line with the vaccination strategy, NHS England will consider which national training and workforce management tools would support integrated care boards and employers to drive innovation in vaccination delivery including ways of supporting different eligible groups.