Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to (1) the remarks by Lord Markham on 25 April (HL Deb col 1092), and (2) the letter from Lord Markham to all members on 1 June, when their position on the private purchase of COVID-19 vaccinations changed from that given in the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care on 9 January (113401) when she stated that "the Government currently has no plans to allow private purchase of COVID-19 vaccines"; and (a) when, and (b) by what means, this information was made publicly available.

On 25 January 2023, the Government published Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice that the primary course COVID-19 vaccination should move, over the course of 2023, towards a more targeted offer during vaccination campaigns to protect those persons at higher risk of severe COVID-19. As the JCVI updates its clinical advice, the Government has and will continue to review its policy position, working with manufacturers, clinicians and other appropriate stakeholders. There is currently no private provision of COVID-19 vaccination in the UK and the Government has no plans to provide information regarding the private purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. We continue to develop options for the future supply of COVID-19 vaccines. We would expect private healthcare providers, including pharmacies, to inform the public if, and when, the option to purchase a COVID-19 vaccination becomes available in the United Kingdom.