AQW 14874/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 17/02/2021
Answered On Date: 19/01/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether people who are asthmatic will be maintained in Group 6 for prioritisation in the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Answer:

The Green Book on Immunisation Against Infectious Disease includes those individuals a severe lung condition, including those with poorly controlled asthma as falling within the “at risk” group 6.

Poorly controlled asthma is further defined 2 courses of oral corticosteroids in the preceding 24 months OR - on maintenance oral corticosteroids OR 1 hospital admission for asthma in the preceding 24 months.

GPs, who will be familiar with their asthmatic patients falling within the above category will identify and arrange vaccination of those individuals.