Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission at (1) vaccination centres, and (2) associated transport hubs.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have stated that vaccination sites should be administering the vaccine in line with best infection prevention and control procedures, including social distancing, ventilation and wearing masks. Large scale centres should have an environmental risk assessment in place which is expected to cover requirements for ventilation in a pandemic when transmission and virus shedding is a significant concern. A copy of NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance COVID-19 Vaccination Centres: Operating Framework. Information and guidance on operating Vaccination Centres is attached.

The Department for Transport has produced guidance for transport operators to help them keep transport settings safe and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This includes regular disinfecting and thorough cleaning of transportation, ensuring availability of hand sanitiser and enabling social distancing at transport hubs. A copy of Coronavirus: Safer transport guidance for operators is attached.