Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Stephen Morgan (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 July 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 July 2022. It was answered by Maggie Throup (Conservative) on Monday, 25 July 2022 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Coronavirus and Influenza: Vaccination

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement of categories other than the over 50s who will be eligible for a flu jab and a covid-19 booster this autumn, what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) the health of school staff, (b) the transmission of covid-19 in educational settings, (c) the health of children of the decision not to include teachers and school support staff in the list of eligible categories.

Answer

The Government is guided by advice from the independent expert Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. The JCVI advises that the primary objective of the autumn booster vaccination programme is to increase immunity in those at higher risk from severe illness and offer protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death in winter 2022/23.

Serious outcomes are disproportionately seen in older people or those with certain underlying health conditions. The JCVI advise that eligibility for the autumn programme should be towards those most vulnerable to such outcomes. Health and social care workers are included in the autumn campaign due to the high risk of exposure to COVID-19 and transmission to the clinically vulnerable individuals they care for. The JCVI’s advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-updated-statement-on-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-autumn-2022/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-jcvi-updated-statement-on-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-autumn-2022

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
39979
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Older people Staff Schools Vaccination Influenza Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk