Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of prioritising the covid-19 vaccine booster programme for people diagnosed with long-covid.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent group of experts who advise the Government health departments in the four nations of the United Kingdom on immunisations and the prevention of infectious disease. On 8 August 2023, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI on who should be offered COVID-19 vaccination in autumn 2023.
The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of severe illness, namely hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19. The JCVI advice is to focus the offer of vaccination on those at greatest risk of serious disease or at high risk of transmitting the disease to vulnerable individuals. For this autumn the eligible groups for vaccination are residents and staff in a care home for older adults, all adults aged 65 years old and over, persons aged 6 months to 64 years old in a clinical risk group, frontline health and social care workers, persons aged 12 to 64 years old who are household contacts and persons aged 16 to 64 years old who are carers.
The clinical risk groups for COVID-19 vaccination are defined in the UK Health Security Agency’s ‘Green Book’ on vaccines and immunisation Chapter 14a tables 3 and 4. Post-COVID Syndrome (long COVID) is not currently identified by the JCVI as one of these conditions. The JCVI considered post-COVID syndromes when developing advice for autumn 2023 and concluded that there is not currently sufficient evidence to support making individuals experiencing post-COVID syndrome an eligible group for vaccination.
To support individuals with long COVID, NHS England has set out a long COVID action plan, including establishing a nationwide network of specialist clinics. Anyone who is concerned about ongoing symptoms following COVID-19 can find information and advice on the ‘NHS Your COVID Recovery’ website. The JCVI will continue to review evidence and will provide further advice regarding future vaccination programmes in due course.
Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to offer both flu and covid-19 vaccines to people aged 50 to 64 in winter 2023.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guides the approach to the immunisation programmes in England. For both the COVID-19 and flu vaccination programmes, the JCVI have advised a targeted approach to protect the most vulnerable from severe disease (hospitalisation and death) including older individuals and individuals with specified existing clinical conditions and the Government accepted that advice. The current COVID-19 and flu vaccination programmes started in England on 11 September 2023.
Following advice from the JCVI, the following groups are eligible for vaccination in the 2023/24 flu vaccination programme:
- those aged 65 years old and over;
- those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups;
- pregnant women;
- all children aged two or three years old on 31 August 2023;
- eligible school aged children (Reception to Year 11);
- those in long-stay residential care homes;
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person;
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals; and
- frontline health and social care workers.
On 8 August 2023, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI on who should be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in the autumn 2023 booster programme. The eligible groups are:
- residents and staff in a care home for older adults;
- all adults aged 65 years and over;
- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group;
- frontline health and social care workers;
- persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression; and
- persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers.
Currently therefore, those aged 50 to 64 years old are not, based on age alone, eligible for COVID-19 vaccination or free flu vaccination in the current vaccination programmes. However, if individuals meet any of the eligibility criteria for flu and/or COVID-19 vaccination set out above, they will be able to receive vaccination(s). The JCVI will continue to review evidence and will provide further advice regarding future vaccination programmes in due course.
Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether laundry workers are eligible for the autumn Covid booster programme.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to be the prevention of severe disease (hospitalisation and death) arising from COVID-19. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a targeted approach focussed on those most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 including older individuals and individuals with specified existing clinical conditions.
On 8 August 2023, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI on who should be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in the autumn 2023 booster programme. This includes residents and staff in a care home for older adults, all adults aged 65 years old and over, persons aged six months to 64 years old in a clinical risk group, frontline health and social care workers, persons aged 12 to 64 years old who are household contacts and persons aged 16 to 64 years old who are carers.
Laundry workers are not, as a group, eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in autumn. However, if an individual is a laundry worker in a care home for older adults, a frontline health and social care worker or meets any of the other criteria for eligibility set out above, they are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. The objective of immunisation of frontline health and social care workers and staff working in care homes for older adults is to protect those workers at high risk of exposure who may also expose vulnerable individuals whilst providing care.
Asked by: Lord Mendelsohn (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support, including financial, Integrated Care Boards have received to enact the Government’s precautionary action to bring forward COVID-19 and flu vaccinations this autumn.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The acceleration of the COVID-19 and flu programme was laid out in a system letter on 30 August 2023, which has been published on NHS.UK in an online-only format.
In addition to the financial arrangements set out in the Autumn 2023 GP and Community Pharmacies enhanced service specifications, and Standard Contract schedules, interim arrangements to support programme acceleration have been put in place to recognise additional administrative, organisation and delivery costs.
Commissioned providers are able to claim an additional acceleration payment of £10, in addition to the Item of Service (IoS) fee, for each COVID-19 vaccination administered to care home residents between Monday 11 September and Sunday 22 October 2023 inclusive; and a separate one-off additional payment of £200 for each completed care home by 11.59pm on Sunday 22 October 2023 that is confirmed to the commissioner by the submission of a live time survey no later than 11.59pm on Sunday 29 October 2023.
To support the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccinations to other eligible cohorts, an additional £5 acceleration payment, in addition to the IoS fee, is available for each COVID-19 vaccination administered to eligible people between 11 September and 31 October 2023, excluding care home residents, housebound people, and any health and care worker vaccinations commissioned under the NHS Standard Contract.
The COVID-19 vaccination primary care service specifications and NHS Standard Contract schedules have been updated to reflect the financial arrangements outlined above in line with usual processes.
Asked by: Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow the private sector to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Vaccines that have been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for use in the United Kingdom can be prescribed by a physician, either in the National Health Service or privately.
As is the case for other private healthcare, the emergence of a private market for COVID-19 vaccines in the UK is a matter for manufacturers and private healthcare providers to decide and agree on.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether people working in laundry businesses that supply NHS hospitals are eligible for the covid-19 booster vaccination in winter 2023.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to be the prevention of severe disease (hospitalisation and death) arising from COVID-19. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a targeted approach focussed on those most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 including older individuals and individuals with specified existing clinical conditions.
On 8 August 2023, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI on who should be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in the autumn 2023 booster programme. This includes residents in a care home for older adults, all adults aged 65 years and over, persons aged six months to 64 years old in a clinical risk group, frontline health and social care workers, persons aged 12 to 64 years old who are household contacts and persons aged 16 to 64 years old who are carers.
The objective of immunisation of frontline health and social care staff is to protect those workers at high risk of exposure who may also expose vulnerable individuals whilst providing care. Individuals working in laundry businesses that supply National Health Service hospitals are not in direct contact with vulnerable individuals and are therefore not, as a group, eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in autumn. However, if individuals meet any of the other criteria for eligibility set out above, they will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of (a) covid-19 and (b) flu vaccinations in 2023.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
From 8 December 2020 to 9 July 2023, over 149 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been delivered in England, and as of 31 March 2023, more than 21.2 million people in England have had their flu jabs. The Government, together with the National Health Service and the UK Health Security Agency, are providing advice and information at every possible opportunity to support those getting the vaccine and to anyone who might have questions about the vaccination process.
NHS England continues to emphasise the role of clinicians in proactively identifying clinically vulnerable cohorts and is working alongside patient charities and professional bodies to ensure anyone eligible is identified and referred for vaccination.
Tailored communications have been developed for specialists caring for each group of eligible patients within the immunosuppressed cohort. This includes template referral letters to make it as easy as possible for clinicians to signpost people to get their vaccination.
NHS England have offered an Access and Inequalities Fund to support local systems in delivering creative approaches to driving equitable uptake across their communities, such as mobile clinics, community ambassadors and bespoke outreach activities.
NHS England have also encouraged local partners to administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time where possible to increase the convenience of getting vaccinated for eligible patients.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure accurate and timely monitoring of (1) new COVID-19 cases, and (2) new variants of the disease; and when the next round of booster vaccines will be made available to each age group.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) conducts routine monitoring and surveillance of COVID-19 and the emergence and spread of new variants internationally via a range of surveillance systems and genomic capabilities. These systems report on infection rates, hospitalisations and the risks posed by new variants.
This year’s autumn influenza and COVID-19 vaccine programmes is starting earlier than planned in England, on 11 September 2023, as a precautionary measure. Speeding up the Autumn vaccine programme will deliver greater protection, supporting those at greatest risk of severe illness and reducing the potential impact on the National Health Service.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to:
- residents in a care home for older adults;
- all adults aged 65 years and over;
- persons aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group;
- frontline health and social care workers;
- persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression; and
- persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults.
An appointment will be offered to eligible people between September and December 2023, with those at highest risk being called in first. Those eligible for vaccination are encouraged to take up the offer of the vaccine as soon as they are called to ensure they head into winter with the best protection.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to expand the eligibility criteria for covid-19 vaccinations as part of the seasonal booster programme.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to be the prevention of severe disease, involving hospitalisation and mortality, arising from COVID-19. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a targeted approach focussed on those vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 including older individuals and individuals with specified existing clinical conditions.
On 8 August 2023, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI on who should be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in the autumn 2023 booster programme. This includes residents in a care home for older adults, all adults aged 65 years and over, persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, frontline health and social care workers, persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts, and persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers.
Currently, there are no plans to expand the eligibility criteria for the autumn campaign. The JCVI will continue to review evidence and will provide further advice regarding future vaccination programmes in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making the covid-19 vaccination available privately as part of the seasonal booster programme.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government is guided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on eligible cohorts for vaccination who have advised that the objective for the autumn/winter campaign is to continue to focus the offer of vaccination on those at greatest risk of serious disease and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination.
Vaccines that have been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for use in the United Kingdom can be prescribed by a physician, either in the National Health Service or privately.
To date, the pharmaceutical companies producing COVID-19 vaccines have not made these treatments commercially available to the private health care sector in the United Kingdom either through pharmacies or other healthcare providers, but this is a matter for pharmaceutical companies rather than the Government or Parliament.