Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether health and care professions that can currently administer medicines, through Patient Group Directions and Independent Prescribing Rights, will be granted rights to assist with the roll out of any covid-19 vaccination programme.

Secondary legislation enabling more healthcare workers to administer flu and potential COVID-19 vaccines has been introduced. This means that the National Health Service can expand the vaccination workforce by recruiting to clinical roles needed to support mass vaccinations in a safe way. This includes drawing on the skills of those who have volunteered through the NHS Bring Back Scheme, considering the use of a wider range of professionals such as registered dentists, midwives, occupational therapists, paramedics, physiotherapists and radiographers, trainee doctors and nurses, as well as those currently working outside of the NHS such as St John’s Ambulance and independent nurses and occupational health service providers.

This expanded workforce will work alongside GPs, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals in primary, community and acute care experienced in delivering vaccination programmes. There are many other people in the UK who have experience and vital skills that can be adapted to support vaccination services. For example, cabin crew are being recruited and trained to work alongside NHS colleagues at vaccination sites.