Question reference: S5W-35365
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 19 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people with underlying health conditions are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination as part of JCVI priority group 6, and how this compares with their eligibility for the annual flu vaccine.
Answer
Vaccinations are taking place differently across Scotland to reflect the needs of local communities. NHS Scotland Heath Boards are responsible for the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine. As such, Health Boards are responsible for making decisions regarding local delivery in line with the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance. This includes how to deliver vaccines to those with underlying health conditions.
Information is provided to healthcare practitioners via the Green Book, which holds the latest information on vaccines and vaccination. The Green Book states for cohort 6, the JCVI priority list is not exhaustive and there may be people, with a particular underlying health condition, who would benefit from earlier vaccination based on the clinical judgement of a clinician looking after the person on a case by case risk assessment.
Due to the flexibility of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s eligibility criteria for Cohort 6, it isn’t possible to provide a population size for Cohort 6.
As of March 2021, 162,881 people who are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable have received their first dose.
Those aged 64 years or under and considered to be at risk in the 2020-21 Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme, were 757,926. The Scottish Government encourages all those who are eligible for both the Covid-19 and the seasonal flu vaccines to accept their invitation when offered an appointment.