22
Accepted
The next stage for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to vaccinate 5-...
Conclusion
The next stage for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds. NHS England told us it recognised that this would probably be a slower and more challenging rollout given the adaptations necessary to accommodate 42 Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: Covid-19: Planning for a vaccine, HC 930, 11 January 2021, Qq 28, 66 43 C&AG’s Report, paras 1.10, 2.3 44 Since the session a sixth vaccine, the Valneva COVID-19 vaccine, received approval by MHRA on 14 April 2022 45 C&AG’s Report, paras 4, 2.7, Figure 7 46 Qq 60–61 47 Qq 59–64 48 Qq 26, 59 49 Qq 60, 62 50 Valneva COVID-19 vaccine approved by MHRA on 14 April 2022 51 Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: Covid-19: Planning for a vaccine, HC 930, 11 January 2021, Qq 28, 32 The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine programme in England 15 small children and their parents at vaccination sites. Demand for vaccines would depend on parents making decisions on behalf of children. Sites would need to be prepared to vaccinate uncertain numbers throughout the spring.52 Looking ahead to later in the year, we heard from UKHSA that, while the UK would likely continue to need 6- or 12-month COVID-19 booster campaigns for at-risk groups, there was still much uncertainty.53 Officials did not seem to think that further whole-population booster campaigns were likely in the immediate future.54
Government Response Summary
The government outlines its vaccination plan for 2022-23, including spring boosters for vulnerable adults, vaccination of 5-11 year olds, and autumn boosters for those aged 50 and over, clinical risk groups, and frontline workers, while maintaining the flexibility to adjust the program as needed.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
For the 2022-23 financial year, the department is set to have delivered a spring booster to the most vulnerable adults, rolled out vaccinations to 5-11-year-old children, and deployed an autumn booster to adults aged 50 and over, clinical risk groups and frontline health and social care workers. This is as well as a continued offer to vaccinate those eligible from last year’s campaigns and maintaining the capability to expand or accelerate the programme, similar to what was required following the emergence of the initial Omicron variant last FY. As the country learns to live with COVID it is a possibility that the programme will need to adjust its course throughout the year and deploy to further cohorts should that be needed, and in accordance with JCVI recommendations. Budget allocations are therefore subject to change in response to these modifications to the vaccine programme.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Eleventh Report - The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine programme in England
13 Jul 2022
HC 258
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
4.0 yrs
Report published
13 Jul 2022