Parliamentary Search

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), what assessment they have made of whether a health-systems focus on the benefits of vaccines and immunisations may disadvantage prevention within the health technology appraisals process.

Answer

The cost-effectiveness methodology used by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) ensures that decisions are objective, consistent, and based on high-quality data on health benefits and costs. This approach is not understood to disadvantage vaccinations and immunisations as a form of prevention when compared with treatments, therapeutic health measures, or other forms of prevention.

This is because, similar to the JCVI, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also applies a health‑sector perspective when appraising preventative and treatment interventions. Beyond vaccines, many other health interventions can generate wider societal or economic benefits, and so applying an appraisal approach across the health system which is consistently focused on health benefits does not uniquely disadvantage vaccinations or immunisations.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL15361
Session
2024-26
Related items
Vaccination
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Vaccination
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk