AQW 22496/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health who will be prioritised for the COVID-19 booster jabs.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 15 September 2021
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 15 September 2021
- Answer due by
- 30 September 2021
- Answered
- 22 September 20217 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
From the outset of the Northern Ireland Covid 19 Vaccination Programme we have been guided by the advice of the JCVI, an independent panel of experts.
JCVI advises that for the 2021 COVID-19 booster vaccine programme, individuals who received vaccination in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme (priority groups 1-9) should be offered a third dose COVID-19 booster vaccine. This includes:
Those living in residential care homes for older adults;
Frontline health and social care workers;
All adults aged 50 years or over;
All those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the Green Book), and adult carers; and
Adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.
In addition, JCVI advises that the booster vaccine dose is offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course ie not less than six months after receipt of second dose. JCVI also advise that the booster programme should be deployed in the same order as during Phase 1, with operational flexibility exercised where appropriate to maximise delivery.