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Written question asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (Crossbench) on Monday, 16 November 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 November 2020. It was answered by Lord Bethell (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 November 2020 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether frontline staff working in the funeral industry will be considered as a priority group to receive vaccination against COVID-19.

Answer

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent experts who provide advice to Government on which vaccine(s) the United Kingdom should use, and which groups to prioritise. Whilst there is a desire for the whole UK population to be vaccinated, there may need to be an element of prioritisation - based on availability, evidence on safety and efficacy in different population groups and constraints in supply.

The committee – in their interim advice - have advised that for Phase 1, the vaccine first be given to care home residents and staff, followed by people over 80 and health and social workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors in the initial phase. We will consider the Committee’s advice carefully as further data emerges in preparation for Phase 2 including for critical workers in other essential sectors. Our vaccination programmes are led by the latest scientific evidence and we expect the Committee’s advice to develop as more evidence is gathered.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL10329
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Funerals Staff Vaccination Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk