UK Vaccination Strategy

Opened the debate

MP Paul Beresford, a dentist by profession, urged the Government to capitalise on the success of vaccination during the covid pandemic to promote broader and more robust proactive approaches to vaccination. He highlighted the need for high uptake across all ages, setting clear targets for adult vaccinations, especially against respiratory diseases and existing vaccine-preventable diseases like measles. Beresford cited historical examples such as polio eradication through vaccines and recent successes with HPV vaccines reducing cervical cancer rates. He emphasised the importance of addressing misinformation about vaccines on social media and urged hospital and care home staff to be vaccinated. The MP stressed the need for financial encouragements for GPs and pharmacies to promote vaccinations and noted that vaccination against shingles among over-70s should also be promoted.

Government Response

The Minister, Maggie Throup, thanked MP Beresford for his kind words and detailed speech. She highlighted the UK’s successful covid vaccination programme, noting that nine in ten people aged 12 and over have received at least one dose. The Minister emphasised the roll-out of booster jabs to protect against severe illness during winter months, with more than 500 additional vaccination sites now operational compared to April this year. She also mentioned working closely with local authorities, faith leaders, and ethnic minority communities to combat misinformation, providing translated materials in over 13 languages. Throup committed to continuing efforts to improve vaccine uptake among all age groups, including a focus on hard-to-reach populations such as those experiencing homelessness. The Minister assured the House that new measures would be introduced to make vaccination records easily accessible digitally and reiterated the Government’s commitment to combating misinformation through cross-Whitehall counter-disinformation units and social media companies' commitments.