PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Coronavirus: Vaccination (3 December 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions the Government has had with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on including unpaid carers in its priority list for the covid-19 vaccine.

Asked by:
Sir Alan Campbell (Labour)

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) consists of independent experts who advise the Government on which vaccine/s the United Kingdom should use and provide advice on prioritisation at a population level. The JCVI has advised that the vaccine should be given to care home residents and staff, followed by people over 80 years old and health and social care workers.

We recognise the vital role unpaid carers play in caring for vulnerable individuals. JCVI recommends that carers who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill, should also be offered vaccination alongside people with underlying health conditions.

Answered by:
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative)
8 February 2021