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Covid-19 Update
13 December 2021
Lead MP
Sajid Javid
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSForeign AffairsLocal Government
Other Contributors: 50
At a Glance
Sajid Javid raised concerns about covid-19 update 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:
Government Statement
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, delivered a statement on the government's response to the omicron variant of covid-19. He highlighted that there are currently 4,713 confirmed cases of omicron in the UK with daily infections estimated at around 200,000. The NHS has been put on alert and will co-ordinate a national effort against the variant. Javid announced an accelerated booster programme aiming to offer every eligible adult a third dose before the end of December rather than January. He outlined plans for more vaccination centres, additional volunteer vaccinators, and support from military planning teams. Plan B measures were also proposed, including mandatory face coverings in indoor public places and restrictions on entry into nightclubs and large events based on testing or double-vaccination status. Other measures included easier access to lateral flow tests and a new NHS covid pass for 12 to 15-year-olds.
Nigel Huddleston
Con
Ealing Central and Acton
Question
Will the Minister consider adding a requirement for individuals to get their third dose or booster before being admitted to hospital, as it will encourage people to get vaccinated?
Minister reply
The Government is considering all options to increase uptake of boosters. While a mandatory requirement for hospital admissions may not be practical at this stage, the emphasis is on encouraging and incentivising individuals to take up their booster appointments.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hollingbourne
Question
With more restrictions being imposed, what will happen to those people who are now unable to work from home because of these new measures?
Minister reply
The Government is working closely with businesses and local authorities to support workers affected by plan B measures. Guidance is available for employers on how to manage remote working and other arrangements during this period.
Paul Burstow
LD
Sutton and Cheam
Question
Given the challenges in testing, what plans does the Department have to ensure rapid deployment of lateral flow tests across all local areas?
Minister reply
The Government is actively working with manufacturers to increase production and distribution of lateral flow test kits. Additional stock will be made available to pharmacies and other points of distribution starting tomorrow.
Diana Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North
Question
How many people have been vaccinated in the past week with a booster dose, and what is the target for next week?
Minister reply
Over 500,000 boosters were administered across the UK last Saturday alone. The ambition is to deliver over 1 million vaccinations per day moving forward as we scale up our vaccination efforts.
Karl McCartney
Con
Lincoln
Question
What steps are being taken to assist GPs and other health professionals who may be overwhelmed by the need for rapid vaccine deployment?
Minister reply
The NHS is providing additional resources, including military support teams, to help with logistical challenges. Training programmes have been put in place to increase the number of vaccinators, easing pressure on GP surgeries.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
Question
Streeting questioned the Government's ability to deliver booster vaccines by the end of December, citing concerns over testing shortages and inconsistent messaging. He also inquired about delays in vaccinating 12-15 year-olds and asked for an update on NHS workforce plans.
Minister reply
Javid acknowledged the challenges but emphasised that the NHS is committed to offering booster doses by the end of December. He explained that while tens of millions of tests are available, delivery methods need improvement due to increased demand. Javid also highlighted additional funding and workforce expansion efforts for the NHS.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming and Ash
Question
Hunt questioned whether UK regulators were taking too long in approving booster jabs for all adults and vaccines for younger age groups, citing examples from other countries.
Minister reply
Javid acknowledged the importance of speed in approvals but noted that the JCVI has been swift to adapt guidance following the emergence of omicron.
Alan Brown
SNP
Cowdenbeath
Question
It is worth putting on record that Scotland is the most vaccinated nation in the UK, and I certainly encourage everybody to continue to take up the booster. Does the Secretary of State share my outrage that last week his Back Benchers were literally cheering the proposition that he needs to wait until more people are hospitalised before they will countenance the wearing of masks in public places? That is absolutely reckless, and it sends the wrong message to the public when we are trying to tell them to take the risk of omicron seriously. Tragically, we know that people are now being hospitalised and, sadly, we have already recorded one death from omicron. Based on evidence elsewhere, what kind of upward trajectory does the Secretary of State think there will be in hospitalisations? Why in the plan B measures being brought forward—all already in place in Scotland—is there a pub exemption? That makes no sense. Given that LFTs are only 50% accurate, what risk implications has the Secretary of State assessed in using the LFTs to keep people from self-isolating? Surely he needs to consider the minimum being a PCR test, following the more cautious approach adopted by the Scottish Government. Why, with LFTs as their key guidance, have the Government put themselves in this ridiculous position of the website saying it has run out of LFT kits? If we are talking about supporting people to self-isolate, we need to revisit and extend the levels of statutory sick pay. What discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about that? Critically, does he support calls from the devolved nations that they need Treasury support to put in place what restrictions they believe are required to control the spread and impact of omicron and support livelihoods at the same time? The Scottish Government have already put in place more generous rates relief for hospitality venues than the UK Government did but, with trade dropping, suppliers and the trade itself need further support, especially if further restrictions are required. Will the Secretary of State take that up with the Chancellor? Is the Cabinet considering support for the travel industry? Does he agree that targeted sector restrictions, with full financial support, is a better long-term strategy than the “all or nothing” approach we seem to be taking, and praying that the booster programme alone will be sufficient? It will need a lot more work than just that alone.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is right to point to the lag between the point of infection and hospitalisation. That emphasises the need to act early and strongly. That is why the booster programme and that response is so important in Scotland, in England and throughout the UK, and it is good that all four nations are working closely together on it. On lateral flow tests as an alternative to self-isolation, I think they are the right approach. They can be taken daily, so the individual is tested each day for seven days, whereas a PCR would be a single test at a single moment. This is much more flexible and it is based on advice Ministers have received. On the hon. Gentleman’s questions on economic support, that is something we keep under review.
Andrea Leadsom
Con
South Northamptonshire
Question
I congratulate the Government on the roll-out of the vaccination programme—it is impressive—but what does my right hon. Friend say to my constituent who says she is now less afraid of covid than she is of intrusive and incoherent Government regulations?
Minister reply
I would say to my right hon. Friend that I hope her constituent would appreciate that the Government have to act on the information they see before them on the rate of spread of this new variant and what we now know about its degree of vaccine escape—not just to protect my right hon. Friend’s constituent, but to protect that constituent’s loved ones and her community.
Barry Sheerman
Con
Huddersfield
Question
May I say to the Secretary of State that I was deeply shocked, when he was in this House recently and I said that all sensible Members of Parliament will be supporting any measure to save lives, to hear boos and catcalls from the Government Benches? I will repeat my view: does he realise what great potential we have as Members of Parliament in our communities, working for this, rolling our sleeves up, working cross-party with local councillors and volunteers? This House of Commons is a real resource. Please, please will he use us effectively?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his call for all hon. Members to do their bit to help the nation in this time of crisis. It is not just about what we can all do in this House; I am sure he agrees that it is about what we can do in our local communities.
Robert Halfon
Con
Southend West
Question
My right hon. Friend rightly talked about protecting the NHS. Can I ask him to ensure that we protect our children as well and that the Government set out a plan to keep schools open in January? Given that The Sunday Times suggested that primary school children will be vaccinated, will he or the Secretary of State for Education make a statement about the vaccination programme for younger children and ensure that there is 100% parental consent?
Minister reply
I agree with my right hon. Friend on the importance of protecting our children. We in this House all know how children have suffered throughout the pandemic and the impact on their education, mental health and socialisation with other children. He is right to talk about that importance. One reason to take the measures that we have set out, especially around expanding the booster programme, is the ensure that we prioritise children. On the issue of vaccinations for younger children aged five to 11, the JCVI is considering that. When the Government hear back from the JCVI on that, we will bring it to the House.
George Howarth
Lab
Knowsley
Question
I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement. Having listened to it and having studied the matter in some detail over the weekend, I will be supporting the Government and the measures that they are introducing tomorrow night. What would he say to those in the community who are saying, “If the rule makers can’t be trusted to obey their own rules, why should we?”
Minister reply
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his support. It is important to emphasise that the rules that we are discussing—all rules of any type, really, but he is talking about those around the pandemic—are there for all of us and apply equally to all of us.
Huw Merriman
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Question
GPs, particularly in rural areas, are finding it difficult and challenging to deliver the booster programme, but will have to deliver the booster in great numbers. Can the Secretary of State look at measures that will speed up the flow for those GP surgeries? Will he send a message to all patients that they will need to be understanding in the next couple of weeks to ensure that the morale of our GPs, who work so hard, is not undermined?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to talk about how hard GPs have worked throughout the pandemic, and about the need to provide greater support. We expect and need them to help with this big new vaccination effort. There are already signs of many people showing that they understand the need for GPs to reprioritise over the next couple of weeks, which is important too.
John Spellar
Lab
Warley
Question
It is clear from the Secretary of State’s statement that he is a considerable improvement on his predecessor, so I am sure that he accepts that covid is now endemic and variants will probably emerge for years, if not decades. In that case, surely by now, instead of the erratic response that we have seen, we should have a well-prepared plan of action and chain of command ready to be activated as soon as a new variant is detected, as well as enough supplies and trained personnel to operate it. Why does his Department seem to be continually surprised by the arrival of variants so that, instead of a smooth-running plan, we have chaos and panic?
Minister reply
Well, there will be variants of covid-19 for many years, as the right hon. Gentleman says—indeed, there have been many hundreds of variants. No country in the world is better at the surveillance of those variants; I remind him that the UK alerted the world to the threat of omicron. No country is better prepared, if we look at how swiftly the UK reacted—for example, with international restrictions and the information that we shared with the world about vaccines. I think he understands those points, and I regret the way that he has framed the question.
Steve Brine
Con
Winchester
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement. Many of my constituents will be very surprised indeed to hear that, from this morning, anyone over 18 can walk into a vaccination centre. Will he give me an update on the Hampshire situation? May I ask my right hon. Friend about the NHS covid pass being rolled out to 12 to 15-year-olds? That is such a welcome announcement; it is something the Secretary of State promised this House he would bring back, and I thank him for that. How exactly will it work? Many of my constituents will be travelling within the next few days, and certainly within the next week and over Christmas. How exactly will they be able to access this pass, given that they cannot access the NHS app in the same way that adults can?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks. He is right that the covid pass is a very important measure. We will shortly publish on the website exactly how it will work, but it is being rolled out as a digital pass in the same way as it is working for adults, starting today.
Toby Perkins
Lab
Chesterfield
Question
The Prime Minister addressed the nation yesterday, but what he has not done is address the NHS in the same way. When I spoke at 4 o’clock to those in Derbyshire, they were unaware. They had had no system letter from the Department of Health about prioritisation of vaccines. They were unaware of whether the quality outcomes framework payments were suspended. And they were unaware that their winter access fund obligations had now been suspended. Will the Secretary of State make sure that all our health care providers are informed about these crucial matters, which actually give reality to the delivery of his really important messages on funding and priorities for the national health service?
Minister reply
Yes. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this is a very fast-moving situation. The NHS made the final decision to go on the expansion—this expansion of the booster programme that I referred to earlier—yesterday, and the system letter has gone out today.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Question
Expressed concern about mixed messaging from the Government regarding school closures, citing a report by the Centre for Social Justice. Also suggested eliminating the 15-minute wait period for GP consultations to increase capacity.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of avoiding unintended consequences and agreed with the measured response message, stating that focusing on the booster campaign is crucial. Mentioned looking into the suggestion regarding a shorter waiting time at GPs.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Question
Asked about access to PCR test kits for local authorities outside of pilot areas, questioning why only nine out of 153 have access to these crucial tools during the omicron variant surge.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the question and mentioned looking into it further.
Esther McVey
Con
Tatton
Question
Inquired about specific conditions for school closures post-Christmas recess, given the potential risks posed by omicron.
Minister reply
Emphasised that the government's approach is balanced and designed to protect children. He stated that prioritising the booster programme remains crucial.
Paula Barker
Lab
Liverpool Wavertree
Question
Encouraged vaccination and thanked Labour for their work on LFTs instead of vaccine passports. Asked the Secretary of State to pause mandatory NHS worker vaccinations, citing union concerns.
Minister reply
Acknowledged objection against vaccine passports but stated that NHS leadership believes mandatory vaccinations are urgent due to omicron.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
Complained about delays in providing booster jabs for very old and homebound individuals, citing a 90-year-old relative still waiting despite being promised action.
Minister reply
Confirmed that care homes have been prioritised with over 97% having received visits from GP teams by the end of November. Acknowledged homebound individuals will continue to be visited for booster jabs.
Question
Asked whether Parliament should move to virtual or hybrid proceedings during the danger posed by omicron variant, citing Scottish Parliament's example.
Minister reply
Stated this is not a matter for his Department.
Mark Harper
Con
Question
Asked for assurance that any further restrictions will be debated and voted on in the House, citing previous instances of decisions made before Parliamentary approval.
Minister reply
Responded there are no current plans for additional restrictions but would take the request to recall the House back to the Prime Minister.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Question
Criticised the government's delayed response in using community pharmacies, providing transport for vulnerable patients, and renewing contact-tracing funding. Asked for an apology.
Minister reply
Rejected the notion of apologising, stating that speeding up the booster programme is crucial to protect public health.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
It has been suggested more than once that, when deaths with covid are announced each day, it should simultaneously be stated how many of them were of unvaccinated people or of people with underlying health conditions or other specific vulnerabilities. Will the Secretary of State now undertake to do that? Did he notice, as I and no doubt others did, that the Prime Minister said this morning that one person in the UK had died with omicron, but the shadow Secretary of State said the death was a result of the virus. Does the Secretary of State know which version is correct?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is right to point to the distinction between, sadly, people who die with covid and those who die of covid. There is a difference. I have come to the Dispatch Box before to say, certainly with the delta variant—we do not have enough data on omicron yet for reasons that he will understand—that, as I am told by the NHS, approximately 20% of the people in hospital who have covid are there because they happen to have covid, rather than them being there because of covid.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
Why are PCR tests so expensive in the UK? Why is the UK the second most expensive place in the world to have a PCR test? Why does the Government website still advertise PCR tests for £15 or £20 when they are not available anywhere in the UK for £15 or £20? Why are such PCR tests still being advertised given that, when someone goes through to the company concerned, the test ends up being £50, £60, £70, £80, £120 or £150? Is there not something that we can do to get the price of these tests down? A family going on holiday at Christmas or new year could end up spending £1,000 to £1,500 just on the tests.
Minister reply
The UKHSA has removed many so-called providers of PCR tests from the listing on the Government website. It has set a minimum price that must be met to try to avoid misleading prices. Unlike some other countries, we have not chosen to subsidise the cost of private PCR tests, because we have rightly concentrated our resources on the PCR tests that are available for people domestically if they have symptoms.
Question
The extended vaccine roll-out is welcome to prevent infection, but given that this puts even more pressure on resources, what steps have the Government taken in tandem to increase capacity in the NHS to address the increasing demand from both covid and non-covid patients? I know that the Army is being brought in, but what about Nightingale hospitals? Might they be reinstituted? Will we look again at the pension challenge, which stops senior people staying in the profession? Will we look at accelerating the training programmes for our health professionals, as other countries have? Will we create new health professionals with shorter training programmes? Action is needed now to deal with the capacity issue.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to talk about the importance of increasing capacity. The pandemic has brought that acutely to the front of our minds. There has been significant investment since the pandemic started, particularly in certain types of capacity, such as intensive care units, PPE and oxygen, as well as personnel, with some 10,000 nurses and 3,000 doctors added over the last year. As a result of the omicron emergency, we are revisiting the issue of how we can further increase the temporary capacity.
Newcastle upon Tyne North
Question
NHS data in November showed that 98% of the pregnant women in hospital with covid were unvaccinated. Pregnant women want to do the right thing to protect themselves and their babies, but there has been a lack of clarity and a lack of prioritisation for vaccines for this group of people. Will the Secretary of State set out what the Government will do to send the message loud and clear that vaccination uptake for pregnant women and their babies is a priority for the Government?
Minister reply
It absolutely is. Work on this is being led by Lucy Chappell, in particular, in my Department and the UKHSA. One of the central focuses of her work has been to encourage more pregnant women to come forward and take up the offer of the vaccine. As the hon. Lady says, sadly, when we look at the data on pregnant women who are going into hospital because of covid infections, we see that almost all of them are unvaccinated.
Question
I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend for the speed and efficiency with which he, the Government and the NHS are rolling out the booster programme. Does he share my concern that the roll-out of the programme is somewhat slower in Wales? There is no access to walk-in centres, no online booking system and the local health boards are depending on Royal Mail when the postal system is under the greatest pressure because of Christmas and because of staff off with covid. Will he agree to share the expertise and capacity that the UK Government have built up in the most positive way with the devolved Administrations—specifically with the Welsh Government —so that my constituents can receive the same access as his?
Minister reply
I very much agree: the omicron emergency is UK-wide and all parts of the UK should respond by increasing whatever they are doing on the booster programme further. I think that that view is shared throughout the UK. We will provide more support to Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to make sure that they can increase their booster programmes.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
Question
Testing and self-isolating are vital in preventing transmission, but for people in precarious jobs who are struggling to make ends meet, it can be incredibly worrying and difficult. Why have the Government still not fixed sick pay so that everyone is properly supported to do the right thing, including those who might be worried about getting their vaccination or booster due to possible side effects and the need to take time off work?
Minister reply
We of course keep under review the support that is available throughout the pandemic. It is important that the House decided to extend the availability of sick pay from day one. There is also a hardship fund that is administered by local authorities.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Question
I commend the Health Secretary for bringing forward the boosters and aiming so high to get them out. One of the key things is to make sure that we have enough vaccinators and staff to do it, as well as volunteers. In that vein, will he ask the integrated care systems—all 42 of them—to review the bureaucracy they have around signing people up to give vaccinations, and potentially even to allow people from GP practices to work in hospitals and vice versa, because one of the practical issues over the past year has been that people have been turned away or have lost interest because of the paperwork around vaccinating. Given the challenge ahead, I would be grateful if he considered asking for that approach.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend speaks with great experience, and he is right to ask how the training programme for vaccinators, especially volunteer vaccinators, can be streamlined. That work is going on at urgent speed both within the NHS—within the ICSs—and in support of the fantastic work that St John Ambulance has been doing in this space.
Vicky Foxcroft
Lab
Lewisham North
Question
I have asked the Secretary of State on numerous occasions about antibody testing for immunocompromised people. His answer has been about antivirals for when people get covid. Has he looked into giving immunocompromised people antibody tests so that we have a clear picture of who will need the antivirals quickly if they get covid?
Minister reply
My understanding is that antibody tests are available for the immunocompromised and the clinically extremely vulnerable if that is what their consultant believes is necessary.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
I declare my interest as a vaccinator. I support the level of ambition that the Secretary of State has articulated, but does he distinguish between being offered a jab and actually getting a jab? Someone can be offered a hip replacement, but it does not mean they will get it any time soon.
Minister reply
First, I thank my right hon. Friend for being a vaccinator and for all the work he has done personally to help this country get through the pandemic. Of course there is a distinction—he is absolutely right. The NHS can offer an individual a jab—they might receive an email or a text saying, “Please come forward. Either book or walk in. You are eligible.”—but the individual has to come forward and take up that offer. That is why a huge amount of effort—even more effort than before—will go into persuading people to come forward.
Derek Twigg
Lab
Widnes and Halewood
Question
May I ask the Secretary of State why the Government have no coherent plan for dealing with delays to elective surgery and treatment? I say that because I asked some parliamentary questions about what impact the recently announced Government funding will have on waiting times over the next three years, but the answer said that no estimate has been made at this time. I then asked what assessment has been made about private sector capacity. Again, I was told that no estimate has been made. I ask the Secretary of State: where is the plan to deal with the huge backlog of elective treatment? Macmillan estimates that there are 50,000 missing cancer diagnoses in the UK and that 32,000 people are waiting for their first cancer treatment in England.
Minister reply
I remind the hon. Gentleman that the Government have already announced the biggest catch-up fund for electives that the country has ever seen in order to deal with that challenge.. There is an extra £2 billion for the second half of this year and a minimum of £8 billion over the next three years, and the NHS is working on a detailed plan which will be published as soon as it is ready.
Nusrat Ghani
Con
Sussex Weald
Question
The Health Secretary should be proud of the vaccination programme, but expresses concern about NHS staff leaving due to mandatory vaccinations. She mentions a statistic of 126,000 unvaccinated NHS workers.
Minister reply
We will debate the statutory instrument in the House and will provide an update on the number of unvaccinated NHS workers which is expected to decrease as seen with similar measures in care homes.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
Questions why socialising indoors without masks is allowed when transmission rates are high.
Minister reply
The Government's approach is balanced and proportionate, recognising the impact of restrictions on people’s lives while aiming to slow down the spread of omicron.
Question
Welcomed booster vaccines but urges for a walk-in vaccination centre in Stafford.
Minister reply
Acknowledges representation and will try to make it happen, also mentions involvement of more pharmacists in the programme.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Question
Asks about continuation of contain outbreak management fund beyond March 2022.
Minister reply
Will look into it.
Question
Questions the access to booster appointments and involvement of more pharmacies in local areas like Basingstoke.
Minister reply
The programme is a national initiative but locally delivered, hundreds more pharmacists will be involved.
Question
Thanked the Secretary for resolving access to proof of vaccination for under-18s and questions about travel rules.
Minister reply
Under-18s can now get their proof online, and will be working with DfT to review current travel restrictions.
Question
Questions the daily testing for isolation and opening hours of vaccination centres like St Thomas’ Hospital.
Minister reply
People isolating can move to daily contact testing from tomorrow, subject to House approval. Opening hours will be increased.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Question
Concerned about inequalities in booster access.
Minister reply
Focus should always be on the most vulnerable; NHS is ensuring home visits and care for vulnerable people.
Question
Argues that early action saves lives and supports freedoms.
Minister reply
Agrees, purpose of measures is to save lives and preserve more freedoms.
Greenwich and Woolwich
Question
Asks about mandatory passes for venues and digital access issues.
Minister reply
Lateral flow test negative results or proof of vaccination can be used, exemption exists for double-vaccinated individuals. NHS letter process is available.
Question
Concerned about constituents with anaphylaxis and urticaria who cannot access vaccines.
Minister reply
Rules around vaccination do not apply to medically exempt individuals, GP exemption certificates or 111 advice can be sought.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Question
Thanked NHS staff and volunteers while asking for resources in areas with low vaccine uptake.
Minister reply
Agrees on the importance of focusing on unvaccinated individuals to protect everyone.
Richard Graham
Constitutional
Gloucester
Question
Welcomed the news of daily lateral flow tests replacing self-isolation for close contacts and the extension of travel pass to 12-15-year-olds. Asked about individuals who recently had COVID but are required to provide a negative PCR test for international travel.
Minister reply
Agreed that there is no vaccine passport requirement, only a free lateral flow test or proof of vaccination for access to venues and events. Promised to look into the issue regarding those needing a PCR test after recent infection.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Question
Asked about when the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation might make a decision regarding vaccination for clinically extremely vulnerable children like seven-year-old Lexi with heart and lung conditions.
Minister reply
Confirmed that JCVI is reviewing this, but before any vaccine can be deployed in an age group it must first be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency as safe and effective.
Wera Hobhouse
Lib Dem
Bath
Question
Asked about improving vaccination services availability, highlighting that despite being boosted herself, finding a convenient location in Bath was difficult compared to London.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the need for increased capacity nationwide and confirmed that with recent plans announced, there will be more opportunities for residents of Bath to get vaccinated.
Shadow Comment
Wes Streeting
Shadow Comment
The Labour party, led by Wes Streeting, welcomed the government's ambition but criticised inconsistencies in messaging and testing availability. Streeting questioned whether the target of offering every adult a booster jab before the end of December was achievable given recent changes to targets. He also raised concerns over vaccine roll-out delays for 12 to 15-year-olds and urged for clearer communication with local authorities, GPs, pharmacies and delivery partners involved in the programme. Labour expressed doubts about whether the NHS could manage both booster campaigns and other health services effectively.
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