The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent expert advisory committee that advises Ministers on matters relating to the provision of vaccination and immunisation services.

 The Health Protection (Vaccination) Regulations 2009 came into force from 1st April 2009 and require the Secretary of State for health to implement the recommendations of the JCVI provided that the recommendation must:-

(a) relate to new provision for vaccination under a national vaccination programme or to changes to existing provision under such a programme;
(b) be made by the JCVI (and not therefore a sub-committee of the JCVI);
(c) be in response to a question referred to the JCVI by the Secretary of State;
(d) be based on an assessment which demonstrates cost-effectiveness; and
(e) not relate to vaccination in respect of travel or occupational health.

It is surprising that the Regulations require the recommendation to be cost-effective but make no stipulation as to any requirements for consumer safety

The latest declaration of interests of members of the committee can be reviewed here

The 2009 Regulations mean that the Secretary of State is no longer responsible for setting the national vaccination programme in the UK and cannot be accountable to Parliament for it. Responsibility for this now lies with the members of the JCVI