To ask the Minister of Health to outline the arrangements in place for participants of Novovax Vaccine Trail to receive (i) a COVID-19 Travel Certificate; and (ii) eligibility for other presently approved vaccines.

Currently vaccine certification for travel purposes relies on records drawn from the Vaccine Management System. Work is ongoing to incorporate records of participation in clinical trials into the Northern Ireland certification system to facilitate the production of certificates.

Trial participants have already received documentation to confirm they are recognised as fully vaccinated in Northern Ireland.

At present it is not recommended that those who participated in clinical trials should be further vaccinated in the routine programme and should be referred back to the investigators. (Chapter 14a The Green Book – Immunisation Against Infectious Disease).

It is acknowledged that the participation of individuals in clinical trials for vaccines was critical in the Covid-19 response and those who took part benefitted our society enormously.