Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of (a) the continued impact of covid-19 on people at higher risk of ill health through contracting covid-19 and (b) the risks such people continue to face from covid-19; and what steps he is taking to support those people.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 30 March 2023, in 2023/24 the Government will maintain a range of capabilities to protect those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Given the continued effectiveness of vaccines and improved treatments, for most people there is a much lower risk of severe illness compared to earlier in the pandemic.

Appropriate levels of testing will remain to support diagnosis for clinical care and treatment and to protect very high-risk individuals and settings. Those who are at highest risk and immunocompromised are part of the group who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments in the community enabling them easy access to anti-viral treatments. High risk individuals are also part of the priority cohort in line for booster vaccines. The Government will continue to consider the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on future vaccine selection and booster programmes for those at greatest risk. The Government will also maintain essential COVID-19 surveillance activities in the community, primary and secondary care, and in high-risk settings.