Thank you very much for contacting me about booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As a general point, the vaccine rollout has been phenomenal, and I believe it is vital that we do everything possible to prolong the protection vaccines offer. The Welsh NHS will be contacting people directly to arrange a booster, and I urge all those eligible, to get their vaccine as soon as they can, so they have the strongest possible protection over the winter months.
I also appreciate that, as we approach winter, many people will be worried about the impact this could have on the COVID-19 outbreak. With increasing levels of social mixing and close social contact, it is expected that during the winter, COVID-19 will circulate alongside other respiratory viruses, including seasonal flu. These viruses have the potential to add substantially to the winter pressures which are already being faced by the Welsh NHS.
I therefore welcome that booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are being given to those who were vaccinated in the first phase of the rollout earlier this year. This will be no earlier than six months after an individual’s second dose and I am told that these booster vaccines will be deployed in the same order as the initial rollout. In Wales, the booster programme started in mid-September, with care home residents, and frontline health and social care staff being offered their dose first.
The booster programme includes all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19. This includes adults with poorly controlled asthma, as defined in the Green Book, which sets out the latest information on vaccines and vaccine procedures. My colleagues and I in the Welsh Conservatives therefore welcome that “poorly controlled asthma” has been explicitly defined in the Green Book and I hope this will avoid any future confusion.
As you have said, while interim JCVI advice also included offering boosters to those in an influenza risk group, the final advice only included those in a COVID-19 at-risk group. While I can assure you that the final advice covers all those with poorly controlled asthma, I know this change is of concern to many. Therefore, my colleague, Russell George MS, the Shadow Minister for Health, will directly ask the Minister for Health, Eluned Morgan MS, for clarification on the advice.
Thank you again for taking the time to write to me.