AQW 13315/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 25/01/2021
Answered On Date: 19/03/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what consideration he understands is being given to vaccinating police and fire officers as a specific priority group.

Answer:

May I begin by apologising for the delay in replying.

Vaccination policy in Northern Ireland is based on the recommendations and advice provided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which advises the 4 UK Health Ministers.

Other than health and social care workers identified at priority group 2, JCVI has not recommended prioritisation linked to occupation. Therefore, police and fire officers will be vaccinated in line with the general population group they belong to. The rate limiting factor for deployment of the vaccine is the availability of vaccines. The purpose of this approach is to save as many lives as possible with the available vaccine.