Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of offering every adult over the age of 18 Spring covid-19 booster vaccination.

The primary aim of the spring COVID-19 vaccination programme is to reduce the risk of severe disease. The programme targets those over the age of 75 years old who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19. Based on an assessment of the available evidence, protection against severe COVID-19 disease after the first booster declines slowly, therefore the most vulnerable groups have been prioritised for this precautionary vaccination programme. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation continues to consider the latest available data and review the booster programme, particularly in relation to the timing and value of any additional booster doses.