Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that students studying abroad in the 2021-22 academic year will have received their covid-19 vaccinations before travelling.

There are currently no plans to prioritise students specifically as a group. This includes those studying abroad next academic year. Students aged 18 years old and over are prioritised on grounds of age in phase two of the COVID-19 vaccine programme if they have not been vaccinated as part of phase one. Phase two offers vaccination to all those aged 18 to 49 years old unless they fall into a higher cohort group due to age or pre-existing health condition which puts them in phase one.

The Government is working closely with the devolved administrations, the higher education sector and health services across the United Kingdom to ensure that all students are able to access the vaccine efficiently and conveniently where they are eligible. The Government advises those who may be unable to receive a full course of vaccination in the UK to notify clinicians of this before they receive their vaccination. For any foreign travel, the Government advises checking GOV.UK for relevant information including information on healthcare provision.

We are on track to offer a first dose of COVID-19 vaccination to all those aged 18 years old and over by 31 July.