Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will give priority to teachers and support staff in special schools to receive the covid-19 vaccine where the use of personal protective equipment potentially hinders communication and social distancing may be difficult.

Prioritisation for phase one has been based on risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19. All those, including those working in special schools, who are at clinically increased risk will therefore be offered vaccination as part of this phase of the programme. Phase two of the vaccination programme is expected to cover all remaining adults aged between 18 to 49 years old not already vaccinated in phase one. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised an age-based strategy rather than further clinical prioritisation or prioritisation by occupation. Clinical risk is strongly linked to age therefore the most vulnerable adults on grounds of age who are not already prioritised in phase one will receive the vaccine first. The Government has accepted this in principle, subject to the JCVI’s final advice which is expected later this month.