Thank you for contacting me about prioritising Covid-19 vaccines for foster carers.
As you may know, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has set out a strategy that prioritises protecting those most at risk of death and serious disease. In line with the recommendations of the JCVI, the vaccine is initially being rolled out to the priority groups including care home residents and staff, people over 80 years old and health and care workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and risk, including those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and all individuals aged 16-64 years old with underlying health conditions.
Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill, should also be offered a vaccination in priority group six.
Once those most at risk have been protected, Phase 2 of the programme will commence. This may include targeted vaccination of those at high risk of exposure and/or those delivering key public services, such as teachers and foster carers. As with Phase 1 of the programme, these decisions will be guided by expert advice from the JCVI, and I have let colleagues know about the case being made for prioritising foster carers.
I am very pleased by the great progress we are making with the vaccination programme, and the quicker we get people vaccinated, the quicker we will be able to get back to our normal lives.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind Regards,
Sally-Ann Hart MP