Covid-19 Update

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The shadow minister asked if plan C is being ruled out, whether regional tiers are under consideration, and what criteria would trigger the implementation of plan B. He also inquired why mask-wearing was not mandated on public transport despite its importance.

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The MP asked six questions regarding plan C, regional tiers, criteria for triggering plan B, mandatory mask-wearing, booster vaccine targets, walk-in centres availability, children's vaccination rates, flu jabs cancellations, helpline establishment for pregnant women, anti-vax misinformation, sick pay reform, and the potential impact of side effects on work attendance.

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The MP questioned why vaccine uptake rates among over-80s, over-50s, and teenagers are lower than in other European countries despite the urging for vaccinations.

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The MP expressed concern over the reliance on plan A and urged for greater uptake of vaccinations among unvaccinated individuals. He highlighted higher vaccination rates in Scotland compared to England.

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The MP inquired about speeding up vaccinations in schools so that students can continue with their education.

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Expresses concern about public health, given the budget is 24% lower than in 2015. Asks for an update on the Health Secretary's response.

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Suggests ways to engage the public on vaccination, including press conferences with top health officials. Also inquires about vaccine distribution from GPs.

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Asks about secret criteria for plan B due to high occupancy rates and waiting lists in healthcare.

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Thanks the Minister for her statement and highlights the £162.5 million funding for social care, asking if it includes discharge support.

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Complains about difficulties in booking booster shots through the national system and 119.

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Asks about additional incentives for vaccine take-up among younger people, noting operational issues in schools due to illness.

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Asks if there is a need for immediate action on mask-wearing in enclosed private spaces.

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Expresses gratitude for the vaccination programme and asks what is being done about disinformation on social media.

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Criticises UK's approach to vaccine distribution as 'me first', and inquires about the MHRA approval for Valneva’s covid-19 vaccine.

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Thanks the Minister for discussions on his Vaccine Damage Bill and highlights an increase in staff dealing with vaccine damage claims.

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Clarifies eligibility for booster shots among people with diabetes, especially those in group 6.

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Thanks the community for administering vaccines to younger age groups and condemns abuse towards them.

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The Minister says that 79% of people in the UK are fully vaccinated and boosters are being rolled out, yet this terrible virus is taking a desperately heavy toll on human lives, so can she imagine what it is like in most low-income countries where just 1% or 2% of people have been vaccinated? Can she tell us why the UK continues to be one of only a handful of countries blocking the demand for a waiver on the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights—TRIPS—agreement? Why has the UK so far delivered less than 10% of the doses it promised to poorer countries? That is an obscene moral failure, and also harms us here at home.

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My GP has been excellent at promoting vaccinations. I had my second vaccination on 17 April. Five weeks ago, I got covid and I was pretty poorly, but thank God I had had the vaccinations. Last week, the GP chased me up to get my booster injection, which I had on 15 October, followed by the flu vaccination the next day. Other people who would like to have the booster have not yet got to the six-month limit. Does the Minister have a view about reducing that limit so that more people could get vaccinated more quickly?

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Can we have particular strategies for areas in our communities that have very low uptake? We need to counter the mythology and misinformation that have a disproportionate detrimental impact on those low-uptake communities. Such communities tend to be poorer and more impoverished with multiple levels of need and deprivation. We need particular strategies for those areas otherwise covid, which is already at a high level, will let rip. We also need particular strategies for getting our secondary school pupils vaccinated. In secondary schools in Gateshead, even among those who indicated that they wanted a vaccine, only about a third of people in those age groups have so far been able to get one. Can we do something about the misinformation on the 119 helpline too, which is actually preventing constituents from getting accurate information about what they need to do to help themselves and their families?

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Mask wearing has been shown to reduce the spread of covid in confined spaces. Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said that MPs should “set an example” over mask wearing. The Minister this morning said that MPs should make their own decisions about mask wearing, which flies in the face of the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The confusion over mask wearing is reminiscent of the unfortunate great confusion about mask wearing in June 2020, which the Minister will no doubt recall. What will she do to encourage her colleagues on the Government Benches to set that good example in the House of Commons by wearing a mask?

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I am sorry, but this is just not good enough. In my constituency, hundreds of children are off school, hundreds of people are not in work today, and, sadly, people are dying. As a result of that, rather than have a politically led strategy, will the Minister meet with the Association of Directors of Public Health to ensure that they take a lead on how we will manage the crisis in the coming months?

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The Government’s vaccine roll-out has been a success story, but it is important that we continue that success story. I had the flu jab three weeks ago and I will have my covid booster in about four weeks. All sorts of constituents have contacted me to ask why they have been called for a third primary dose of the vaccine along with their flu jab. Are the Government considering a wider publicity campaign to clarify the reason behind the third jab, the criteria for the booster and the need for the flu jab as well at the same time?