AQW 25060/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 02/11/2021
Answered On Date: 18/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, given the link in the answer to AQW 24121/17-22 does not provide the specific reason for delaying the second dose to 16 and 17-year-olds and states that it is anticipated, to detail the specific medical grounds for delaying it now in Northern Ireland, especially given the re-opening of night clubs without mitigations.

Answer:

The Member will be aware that JCVI updated it advice on second doses for 16 and 17 year olds on 15th November.

JCVI advises that young people aged 16 – 17-years who are not in an at-risk group should be offered a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine. The second vaccine dose should be given 12 weeks or more following the first vaccine dose.

For persons who have had proven SARS-CoV-2 infection and a first dose of vaccine, the second vaccine dose should be given 12 weeks or more following the first vaccine dose, or 12 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection, whichever is later.

My Department is working with Trusts to ensure those young people now eligible for a second vaccine can access their vaccination.