Written question asked by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour) on Monday, 9 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 March 2026. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 March 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Vaccination

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 5 February (HL13800), whether they plan to conduct periodic reviews of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's cost-effectiveness methodology to ensure that it remains up-to-date and appropriate.

Answer

We have one of the most comprehensive vaccination programmes in the world. Our approach to evaluating vaccination programmes is informed by expert recommendations and advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Working closely with the UK Health Security Agency‑based JCVI secretariat, the Department ensures that the cost-effectiveness methodology for assessing vaccination programmes continues to enable the committee to advise on programmes that deliver the greatest health benefit to the greatest number of people.

The Department maintains oversight of this methodology on an ongoing basis, with particular focus when the range of available evidence and underlying evidence landscape changes over time. Those changes may arise from time to time at irregular intervals, and so it is unlikely to be helpful to review the methodology at fixed and regular intervals.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL15360
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Vaccination
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Cost effectiveness Vaccination Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Vaccination

Secondary information

Librarians' tools