Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason people aged 56 years and over but not people aged 55 years have been invited for a covid-19 vaccination in group 8.

Within each priority group recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation for COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation, NHS England and NHS Improvement take operational decisions on how to ensure the vaccination process runs smoothly and efficiently. With the cohort of those aged 55 to 59 years old, were opened first to the older age group within that cohort. As a result of this staggered approach, 56 year olds were provided access before 55 year olds.