AQW 15241/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 23/02/2021
Answered On Date: 19/01/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what priority is being given for vaccination for those working at COVID-19 test centres.

Answer:

The member may be aware that 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.

JCVI had advised that the first priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the prevention of mortality and the maintenance of the health and social care systems. As the risk of mortality from COVID-19 increased with age, prioritisation was primarily based on age.

The vaccine was initially targeted at those considered most at risk or HSCWs working closely with those considered most at risk.

Public facing Test Centre staff were approved for vaccination, and some 275 vaccination letters to staff wishing to avail if the vaccine were issued. Some of this cohort were most likely already vaccinated as part of a prior priority group.