Written Statement: Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice on the 2023 COVID-19 vaccination programme, Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services.
The JCVI is an independent expert advisory committee, which advises United Kingdom health departments about immunisation, making recommendations about vaccination schedules and vaccine safety.
As part of its ongoing review of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, the JCVI has today published a statement with its latest advice on the 2023 programme.
Whilst there is high level of strong population immunity developed over the past two and a half years, the risk of severe COVID-19 continues to be disproportionately greater in those from older age groups, residents in care homes for older adults, and persons with certain underlying health conditions. There also still remains on-going uncertainty regarding virus evolution, the durability and breadth of immunity, and the epidemiology of infection.
The JCVI has indicated that for a smaller group of persons (such as persons of older age and those who are immunosuppressed) an extra booster vaccine dose may be offered in spring 2023, whilst for autumn 2023 persons at higher risk of severe COVID-19 would be offered a booster vaccine dose. Emergency surge vaccine responses may also be required should a novel variant of concern emerge with clinically significant biological differences compared to the Omicron variant.
For further information please select the following link Written Statement: Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice on the 2023 COVID-19 vaccination programme (25 January 2023) | GOV.WALES