To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the plans and engagement with GP surgeries regarding the roll-out of the upcoming autumn booster programme for the COVID-19 vaccine in GP surgeries.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK is guided by the advice and recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent expert advisory committee.

JCVI advises that for the 2022 autumn booster programme, the following groups should be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine:

residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults

frontline health and social care workers

all adults aged 50 years and over

persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group,

persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression

persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers

Delivery plans are currently being prepared by the Public Health Agency, in association with the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG), Health and Social Care Trusts and Community Pharmacy. SPPG is communicating with General Practice on the plans and start date.

My Department is awaiting further advice from both JCVI and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regarding which vaccines are approved for use and who should receive them. Once this has been agreed, final plans will be communicated to all those involved in delivery.