To ask the Minister of Health whether there will be any differentiation in eligibility for flu vaccines in Northern Ireland versus the rest of the UK for the 2022/23 vaccination programme.

Eligible cohorts for the flu vaccination programme are based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI). The programme aims to provide direct protection to those who are at higher risk of influenza associated morbidity and mortality and to reduce transmission to all age groups through the vaccination of children. This year vaccination will also be offered to those aged 50 to 64 years.

Based on JCVI advice, each UK nation decides what cohorts to vaccinate in the flu programme. During 2022/23, the other UK nations will vaccinate similar cohorts to Northern Ireland. Their flu policy letters can be found via the following links:

Wales: https://gov.wales/national-influenza-immunisation-programme-2022-2023-whc202216

England: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flu-immunisation-programme-plan/national-flu-immunisation-programme-2022-to-2023-letter

Scotland: https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/cmo/CMO(2022)27.pdf

Eligibility for the Health and Social Care flu vaccine programme in 2022/23 is as follows:

all preschool children aged 2 to 4 years on 1 September 2022

all primary and secondary (up to and including year 12) school children

those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the influenza chapter in ‘Immunisation against infectious disease’ (the ‘Green Book’)

those aged 50 years and over on 31 March 2023 (i.e. born on or before 31 March 1973)

pregnant women

those in long-stay residential care homes

carers

close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

frontline health and social care workers (HSCWs) employed by:

Health and Social Care Trusts including NIAS

community HSC providers including GP practices, pharmacies, dentists, optometrists

registered independent sector residential care or nursing home

registered domiciliary care providers

voluntary managed hospice providers