Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a timescale for the rollout of the fourth covid-19 booster vaccine to under-75s.

The autumn COVID-19 vaccination booster programme commenced on 5 September 2022 in England and National Health Service systems have been asked to offer vaccinations to eligible groups by the start of December 2022. The booster dose will be offered to residents and staff in care homes for older adults; frontline health and social care workers; carers aged 16 years old and over; all adults aged 50 years old and over; and those aged five to 49 years old in a clinical risk group or who are household contacts of someone with immunosuppression.

The oldest and most vulnerable cohorts have received the first invitations. During the week commencing 5 September 2022, more than 700 care homes in England have been visited by vaccination teams. Since 7 September, approximately four million people, including those aged 75 years old and over, people who are immunosuppressed and health and care workers can book an appointment online or by calling 119. The National Health Service will extend the offer to the remaining eligible groups in due course.