Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which priority group of the covid-19 vaccination programme includes family members and carers of people living with the clinically extremely vulnerable, including those with blood cancer.

Included in priority cohort six are those classed as clinically vulnerable, as well as adult carers and younger adults in long stay residential care settings. This also includes unpaid carers.

Consideration has been given to vaccination of household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals. However, whilst initial findings are positive, there is insufficient data on the impact the vaccines have on transmission to extend prioritisation to wider family members and household contact at this stage. Once sufficient evidence become available the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will consider next steps.