Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England plans to use the flu vaccine list to prioritise patients, including those with asthma, for the covid-19 booster vaccination.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published interim advice on a potential Covid-19 booster vaccination programme on 30th June 2021 which can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-interim-advice-on-a-potential-coronavirus-covid-19-booster-vaccine-programme-for-winter-2021-to-2022/jcvi-interim-advice-potential-covid-19-booster-vaccine-programme-winter-2021-to-2022

The JCVI’s interim advice is that COVID-19 boosters are first offered to the most vulnerable. They advise a two-staged approach, with individuals in Stage 1 offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine as well as a flu vaccine, as soon as possible from September 2021, and individuals in Stage 2 offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine as soon as practicable after Stage 1, with equal emphasis on deployment of the flu vaccine where eligible. Adults aged over 50 years old, and those aged between 16 and 49 who are in an influenza or COVID-19 at-risk group, are included in Stage 2.

It is important to note that the JCVI’s advice is interim to inform planning, and this may be subject to change.