Question reference: S5W-33563
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 26 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 11 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what prioritisation it will give to offering people with Down’s syndrome access to any COVID-19 vaccine, and what differences there will be in this prioritisation between children and adults with the condition.
Answer
People aged 16 years and over with Down’s syndrome are included in the priority list published by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on 2 nd December. They will be offered vaccination at the same time as individuals over 70. If they are over 75 or resident in a care home for older people, vaccination will be offered earlier. Although the Pfizer vaccine is not authorised by the MHRA for use in children and young people under 16 years of age, vaccination may be considered for children aged 12 and over with serious neuro-disabilities (including cerebral palsy, severe autism and Down’s syndrome) who spend regular time in specialised residential care settings for children with complex needs (as unlicensed use) after consultation with the clinical team.