Position statement from the mental health and addiction COVID-19 vaccine expert advisory group: January 2021

At the end of 2020 the Equally Well backbone team convened a group of expert advisors, chaired by strategic advisor, Dr Helen Lockett, to consider the available evidence in relation to people with mental health and addiction issues and COVID-19 and to make recommendations to the Ministry of Health’s policy team developing the Vaccination Sequencing Framework.

The research team at Te Pou undertook the evidence review to inform this work.

The advisory group were clear that there is strong evidence to support adults with mental health and addiction issues being prioritised for the vaccination. The Group developed a position statement summarising the evidence and their recommendations. The position statement was sent to the Ministry of Health on 25 January 2021 for their consideration.