To ask the Minister of Health to outline the plan for the next stage of Coronavirus booster vaccines, with specific regard to carers for clinically vulnerable people.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK has been guided by the advice and recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent expert advisory committee. JCVI consider all the available scientific evidence, both published and unpublished, before offering their advice to the four UK Health Ministers.

Interim guidance from JCVI in relation to an autumn programme has been published and this guidance recommends that a booster vaccine should be offered to –

Residents in a care home for older adults and staff

Frontline health and social care workers

All those aged 65 and over

Adults aged 16 to 64 who are in a clinical risk group

A final JCVI statement is expected shortly. I fully recognise the important and vital role carers provide looking after vulnerable members of society and with this in mind my Department has written to JCVI encouraging them to look favourably on including carers in their final statement regarding the autumn booster.

In the meantime the Public Health Agency are developing plans for the implementation of the autumn booster in Northern Ireland and these will be announced following the release of JCVI’s final statement.