Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure people who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised receive clear communication regarding their risk from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the steps they can take to mitigate that risk.

The Government issued updated public health advice on 24 December 2021 for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19. This states that people who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised are advised to:

- ensure they have had all of the vaccines they are eligible to receive, including their booster;

- continue to follow any condition-specific advice they may have been given by their specialist;

- work from home if they can. If they cannot work from home, they should speak to their employer about what temporary arrangements they can make to reduce the risk;

- wait until 14 days after another person’s most recent dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before being in close contact with them;

- avoid enclosed crowded spaces;

- practice social distancing if appropriate;

- ventilate their home by opening windows and doors;

- ask friends and family to take a rapid lateral flow antigen test before visiting them;

- ask home visitors to wear face coverings; and

- wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their face.