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New Covid Variants: Government Preparedness
28 June 2023
Lead MP
Neale Hanvey
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Standards & Ethics
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Neale Hanvey raised concerns about new covid variants: government preparedness in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Neale Hanvey addressed the Government's response to new covid-19 variants and biological threats, criticising past failures in pandemic preparedness. He highlighted the shutting down of dissenting voices during the pandemic and criticised the UK Health Security Agency’s partnerships with Moderna for vaccine development. Concerns were raised about the effectiveness and sustainability of current strategies, and the potential loss of intellectual capability within the domestic diagnostic sector due to government inaction. Hanvey emphasised the need for a broad portfolio of vaccines and better integration of waste water surveillance.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Acknowledged Neale Hanvey's experience, expressed concerns over vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation on social media.
Government Response
Minister Maria Caulfield acknowledged the importance of pandemic preparedness and emphasised ongoing efforts by UK Health Security Agency in surveillance, sequencing, and monitoring of new variants. She noted that while mRNA vaccines are part of their toolkit, other vaccine types remain available. The Government continues to fund international variant assessment platforms and is working closely with partners globally. Caulfield assured transparency regarding vaccine portfolios and offered to meet Neale Hanvey for further discussions.
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Assessment & feedback
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.