Statement by Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services
Today, the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation has
published interim advice as we move into Phase 3 of the COVID-19
Vaccination programme. This provides us with a welcome steer for
the next stage of deployment and a level of certainty around the
much discussed autumn booster vaccination campaign. The JCVI was
asked whether a campaign should be launched to give people a third
dose of the covid vaccine as there...Request free trial
Statement by Eluned Morgan, Minister
for Health and Social Services
Today, the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation has
published interim advice as we move into Phase 3 of the COVID-19
Vaccination programme. This provides us with a welcome steer for
the next stage of deployment and a level of certainty around the
much discussed autumn booster vaccination campaign.
The JCVI was asked whether a campaign should be launched to give
people a third dose of the covid vaccine as there is a danger of
reduced immunity over time.
Following weeks of discussion and consideration of evidence, the
interim advice recommends the autumn booster campaign begins in
September 2021, its purpose being to reduce any further incidence
of Covid-19 and maximise protection in those who are most
vulnerable to serious infection, ahead of the winter months. Early
evidence on the
administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines used in the UK,
supports the delivery of both vaccines at the same time, adopting a
synergistic approach to support delivery and maximise uptake of
both vaccines, but we note that this is still not firm advice from
the JCVI.
The categories of people to be prioritised for a third dose are
classified into Stages 1 and 2, which largely mirror cohorts 1-9 in
Phase 1 of the programme.
Stage 1. The following persons should be offered a third dose
COVID-19 booster vaccine and the annual influenza vaccine, as soon
as possible from September 2021:
adults aged 16 years and over who are immunosuppressed;
those living in residential care homes for older adults;
all adults aged 70 years or over;
adults aged 16 years and over who are considered clinically
extremely
vulnerable;
frontline health and social care workers.
Stage 2. The following persons should be offered a third dose
COVID-19 booster vaccine as soon as practicable after Stage 1, with
equal emphasis on deployment of the influenza vaccine where
eligible:
all adults aged 50 years and over
adults aged 16 – 49 years who are in an influenza or COVID-19
at-risk group.
(please refer to the Green Book for details of at-risk groups)
adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
As most younger adults will only receive their second COVID-19
vaccine dose in late summer, the benefits of booster vaccination in
this group will be considered at a later time, by the JCVI, when
more information is available.
Apart from the current UK approved COVID-19 vaccines, the UK has
placed orders for a range of other COVID-19 vaccines, some of which
may become available for use in a booster programme. JCVI will
review the use of these vaccines once they have received UK
regulatory approval. Vaccines designed specifically against
variants of concern will not be available in time for this
revaccination phase in the autumn and will be considered by
JCVI
over the coming months.
It should be noted that this is interim advice and the JCVI will
consider additional scientific data as it becomes available over
the next few months ahead of developing their final advice.
In line with the other nations of the UK, the Welsh Government
welcomes the JCVI advice on Phase 3. It very much aligns with our
thinking and our planning assumptions to date.
NHS Wales has been planning on the assumption of a
September/October booster for
cohorts 1-9, with around a 6 month gap following a second dose and
health boards have
submitted their initial plans on this basis. We will be working
with health boards to ensure
they are ready to deliver a booster programme from the start of
September in line with this
advice.
The vaccine continues to be the best way to prevent serious illness
and the spread of
COVID-19 and every eligible adult is urged to take-up both doses
when asked. It is never
too late to arrange an appointment and if you have not yet received
your offer of
vaccination, you can find out who to contact here.
