FOI Ref: FOI/2021/3163
You asked
Is someone considered unvaccinated (for your data and records) if after a set amount of time they do not take a booster? Would they be considered unvaccinated if when due for a booster they do not accept it?
As an example, someone is vaccinated with two doses, but they do not take a booster, because the immunity offered by the vaccine has waned, they are not allowed to travel internationally etc are they then considered unvaccinated, if they hypothetically died a year after their second injection would they be considered unvaccinated?
We said
Thank you for your request.
COVID-19 vaccination status is determined on the date of death occurrence if a death has occurred, and on the last day of each week if not.
Possible values are:
Unvaccinated
Vaccinated with the first dose only, date of death/last day of week is within 21 days of vaccination
Vaccinated with the first dose only, date of death/last day of week is 21 days or more after vaccination
Vaccinated with both the first and second dose, date of death/last day of week is date of second vaccination or later
For further information on our methodology and guidance in regards to counting deaths by vaccination status please see our Quality and Methodology publication Weekly COVID-19 age-standardised mortality rates by vaccination status, England: methodology
The definition of unvaccinated would remain the same in future, however we may look to include an additional vaccination status category for people who have received both doses and a booster jab for future releases of this publication.
For further information on vaccinations please feel free to email Health.Data@ons.gov.uk.