Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the risks to, and (2) the most effective treatment and vaccination options for, blood cancer patients in relation to COVID-19; and what discussions they have had with health agencies on this subject.

Patients with blood cancer are included in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s priority group four, for individuals who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. Patients with blood cancer outside of these diagnoses would be included in priority group six for at-risk groups.

Vaccination of patients undergoing treatment for cancer will be carefully considered by clinicians. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing COVID-19 on cancer treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. A copy is attached. Public Health England (PHE) continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on a broad range of outcomes including symptomatic disease, infection and hospitalisations. NICE and PHE continue to advise the Government on these guidelines, which are reviewed and updated regularly.