Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the scientific advice they received from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation between 1 April and 6 May 2021 regarding age restrictions for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided advice to the Government between 1 April and 6 May 2021 regarding age restrictions for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This advice was published on the GOV.UK website, and states that the JCVI currently advises that it is preferable for adults aged less than 30 years old, without underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, to be offered an alternative COVID-19 vaccine, if available.

Discussions on the AstraZeneca vaccine also took place and are noted within the minutes of the JCVI’s COVID-19 sub-committee meetings held on 13, 22, and 29 April 2021. The outcome of the discussions held within these meetings was reflected in the updated JCVI advice on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, published on the 7 May 2021, which extended the preferential use of alternative vaccines to unvaccinated adults aged 30 to 39 years old, who are not in a clinical priority group at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease.