Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy, in response to data that some covid-19 vaccines significantly reduce transmission rates, that people sharing households with extremely vulnerable individuals for whom vaccination may not give full protection, should receive their vaccination at an early stage, regardless of age or other factors, in order to protect their shielding fellow-residents.  [149718] 

[Due for Answer on 10 February. Answered on 3 March.]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment (Nadhim Zahawi): The Government continues to follow the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which agrees priority groupings for vaccination. The Interim advice has been published by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommending an age-based approach which the Government has accepted in principle.