| answer text |
<p>The definition of elderly being used for prioritisation of COVID-19 vaccinations
for people in care homes for the elderly is generally age 65 years old and over.</p><p>Learning
disabilities are considered as part of an overall assessment including age in vaccine
prioritisation decisions. All those with learning disabilities will be prioritised
for a vaccine either in cohort six or by age, in which category permits the earliest
vaccination date. This follows clarification, on 23 February, by the Joint Committee
on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which recommended that all those on their GP’s
learning disabilities register should be prioritised for a vaccination.</p><p>On 26
February, the JCVI published their interim advice for phase two of the COVID-19 vaccination
programme, setting out that the most effective way to minimise hospitalisations and
deaths is to continue to prioritise people by age. This is because age is assessed
to be the strongest factor linked to mortality, morbidity and hospitalisations, and
because speed of vaccination delivery is crucial as we provide more people with protection
from COVID-19. The Government has accepted this advice in principle and subject to
the JCVI’s final advice expected later this month.</p>
|
|
