What discussions has the Minister had about extending the list of groups eligible for the Hepatitis B vaccine to include hill rescue service volunteer workers?
We continue, in Wales, to be led by the latest clinical and scientific evidence and advice in terms of the timing and eligibility for our vaccination programmes. Eligibility groups for the Hepatitis B programme can be found in Chapter 18 of the UKHSA Green Book, which is the guide for health professionals administering vaccines in the UK.
The occupational part of Hepatitis B vaccination advice is not part of the national immunisation programme, and the Health and Safety Executive advises that under Health and Safety at Work legislation, employers must pay for protective measures such as immunisation.
Whilst I recognise the invaluable role that hill rescue service volunteer workers continue to play, vaccination for this cohort is outside of the national programme and, as such, is not something the Welsh Government is able to fund, particularly in the context of the current extremely challenging financial environment.