Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the decision will be taken on the next priority groups to receive the covid-19 vaccine; and when that decision will be communicated to the NHS workforce responsible for inviting people for vaccination.

Phase two of the COVID-19 vaccine programme will cover all adults under 50 years old not already included in phase one. Prioritisation for phase two has not yet been decided, but interim advice has been published by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommending an age-based approach which the Government has accepted in principle.

The JCVI’s final advice will be published in due course followed by a final decision by the Government on the approach to prioritisation for phase two. Once decided, the information needed to operationalise the decision will be cascaded to those delivering the deployment programme including those responsible for inviting people for vaccination.