Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in individuals who are immunocompromised because of a health condition or who need to take immunosuppressants due to transplantation.

Public Health England (PHE) is monitoring effectiveness of vaccination in clinical risk groups including those with immunosuppression.

Based on early data from PHE’s monitoring and increasing evidence indicating the potential for a reduction in transmission in those vaccinated, on 24 March 2021 the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) stated that early vaccination data indicate lower protection in vaccinated adults who are immunosuppressed. Those with severe immunosuppression are therefore more likely to suffer poor outcomes following infection and are less likely to benefit from the vaccines offered. The JCVI advised that adult household contacts of adults with severe immunosuppression, aged 16 years old and over, should be offered COVID-19 vaccination alongside priority group six. This will help reduce the risk of infection in those who may not be able to fully benefit from being vaccinated themselves.

The JCVI will continue to review evidence on the use of vaccines in those with immunosuppression and will update its advice as necessary.