Question reference: S6W-01149
- Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 1 July 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI) for 12- to 15-year-olds to be added to the COVID-19 priority list.
Answer
The Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent organisation that provides advice on vaccines and immunisation. Since the beginning of the pandemic the Scottish Government has considered this advice as part of its decision making process in rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The Scottish Government has independent observers on the panel, Dr Syed Ahmed and representatives from Public Health Scotland. As part of the panel, we have the opportunity to put questions to the JCVI, on a range of topics in relation to COVID-19 including the subject of 12 to 15 years being vaccinated.
Following the recent JCVI advice, young people aged 12 to 15 with severe neuro-disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities, as well as people who are household contacts of individuals who are immunosuppressed, are eligible for vaccination.
The JCVI is not currently advising routine vaccination of children outside of these groups, based on the current evidence. The Chief Medical Officer has written to the JCVI asking them to keep this issue under regular review.