Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any rise in excess deaths in the 2025 autumn and winter periods due to changes to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's recommendations on eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccination, particularly among at-risk groups; and what consideration they have given to preventive measures to address any such rise.

The Government is guided by the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) on eligibility for vaccination programmes. 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.

The JCVI advises that older people and those who are immunosuppressed are the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of severe disease and death, and that vaccination every six months remains appropriate given the durability of protection afforded by the currently available vaccines. Its advice is to offer vaccination in autumn 2025 and spring 2026 to these groups, and also any individuals living in care homes for older adults, as care homes for older people are particularly high-risk settings and may include some younger individuals. This advice is available at the GOV.UK website, in an online only format. The Government is considering this advice carefully and will respond in due course.