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<p>The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent body
of clinical experts, advise the Government on which vaccine/s the United Kingdom should
use and provide advice on prioritisation including for the COVID-19 vaccine.</p><p>The
vaccine is initially being rolled out to priority groups considered to be the most
at risk and frontline health and social care workers, then to the rest of the population
in order of age and risk, including those who are clinically extremely vulnerable
and all individuals aged 16-64 years old with underlying health conditions. The JCVI’s
advice is published at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940396/Priority_groups_for_coronavirus__COVID-19__vaccination_-_advice_from_the_JCVI__2_December_2020.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940396/Priority_groups_for_coronavirus__COVID-19__vaccination_-_advice_from_the_JCVI__2_December_2020.pdf</a></p><p>People
with a learning disability who are clinically extremely vulnerable, including adults
with Down's syndrome, and people with a severe and profound learning disability are
prioritised to receive the vaccine; and are within fourth and sixth vaccine prioritisation
groups respectively. This applies to all care settings, and many younger adults in
residential care settings will be eligible for a prioritised vaccine because they
fall into one of the clinical risk groups, for example learning disabilities. Given
the high risk of exposure in these settings, where a high proportion of the population
would be considered eligible, prioritised vaccination of the whole resident population
is recommended.</p><p>Throughout the pandemic officials from the Department have joined
regular fortnightly meetings with learning disability and autism stakeholders to discuss
the response to the pandemic and its impacts on people with a learning disability
and autism.</p>
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