Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many clinically extremely vulnerable and immunocompromised people are living in the England.

During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable patients were advised to shield or take extra precautions. The success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme has meant that people who were part of this patient cohort are no longer at substantially greater risk than the general population and so are advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else on staying safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

The definition and number of clinically extremely vulnerable and immunocompromised population has evolved as patients are diagnosed or complete treatment courses that remove their vulnerability.

However, there remains a smaller number of people whose weakened immune system means they may be at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, despite vaccination. This cohort remain a priority for the Government and as such, are offered enhanced protections such as treatments, booster vaccines, free lateral flow tests and public health advice.

The current assessment of the population in England at higher risk for COVID and therefore eligible for assessment for COVID-19 therapeutic treatments options is 2.5 to 3 million patients.