To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 12604/17-22, whether he has any plans to submit a business case to prioritise key workers (i) in essential retail; (ii) living in rural areas; (iii) in private residential and care homes; and (iv) with underlying medical conditions, within the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Key workers in essential retail & (ii) Key workers living in rural areas;

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 have not recommended occupational prioritisation other than Health & Social Care Workers at Priority Group 2.

Key workers in private residential and care homes

All key workers in private and residential care homes should have had the opportunity to receive their vaccination as vaccines were offered to all those within this sector under at priority group 1.

Key workers with underlying medical conditions, within the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

The vaccination programme in Northern Ireland is running steadily and we have made exceptional progress through groups 1-4. Those people with underlying medical conditions which render them clinically extremely vulnerable are being vaccinated as part of priority group 4 and those clinically vulnerable will be vaccinated as part of priority group 6.