To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether patients over 65 who, in the last two years, have had (a) latent tuberculosis; (b) pneumonia; (c) bronchiectasis; or (d) recurrent chest infections, will be prioritised in the COVID-19 vaccination process; (ii) in what way will they be prioritised; (iii) how this will be communicated to those affected; and (iv) how this will be carried out.

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 advice on prioritisation of the vaccine was published on 2nd December 2020. The ranking of priorities is a combination of clinical risk stratification and an age-based approach, which should optimise both targeting and deliverability.

JCVI has 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 increases with age, prioritisation is primarily based on age.

Many of those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (high risk) are in the oldest age groups and will be among the first to receive vaccine. From early January 2021, subject to the availability of a suitable vaccine, it is intended to roll out the programme through primary care led vaccination clinics which will be responsible for the vaccination of those considered most at risk, which will include the majority of people who were on the vulnerable list.

GPs will be responsible for inviting their patients to attend for vaccination which will be largely similar to the annual flu vaccination programme.