Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of giving priority status for covid-19 vaccinations to guides and drivers for pupils at special schools due to the proximity of those guides and drivers to children with SEND.

For phase two of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s interim advice set out that the most effective way to minimise hospitalisations and deaths is to continue to prioritise people by age, rather than by occupation. Age is assessed to be the strongest factor linked to mortality, morbidity and hospitalisations.

If guides and drivers for pupils at special schools are captured in phase one or two due to age or clinical need, then they will be vaccinated accordingly.