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Covid-19 Update
02 February 2021
Lead MP
Matthew Hancock
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Social CareEmploymentForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 52
At a Glance
Matthew Hancock 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
Mr Hancock announced the progress of the UK's vaccine roll-out against coronavirus. As of today, over nine million people have been vaccinated, with nearly one million receiving their doses last weekend alone. The statement emphasised that nearly all people aged 80 and above had received their first dose, as well as half of those in their seventies. Over 10,307 care homes across the UK have now been visited to administer vaccines. Mr Hancock highlighted plans for expanding workplace testing including at Parliament. He also acknowledged the challenges posed by new variants like the South African variant (B.1.351) and emphasised the need for caution in areas where these variants are detected, with increased testing and door-to-door checks in affected localities. The statement concluded by referencing progress made against HIV and the goal of ending transmissions by 2030.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Delyn
Question
Asked about timelines of identifying new variants, hotel quarantine arrangements, rolling out testing across neighbouring postcodes, hesitancy towards vaccines among care staff and teachers awaiting vaccination after Easter. Also raised concerns about school closures affecting children's education and mental health.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Dartford
Question
Ashworth questioned the Secretary of State about the timelines and processes related to identifying South African variant cases. He also inquired about delays in hotel quarantine arrangements, requested SAGE minutes publication, suggested expanding testing in neighbouring postcodes, emphasised the need for better support during isolation periods, discussed vaccine hesitancy, and raised issues regarding children’s health during school closures.
Minister reply
Hancock confirmed actions to stop further spread of new variants alongside tougher border controls. He mentioned investigating linked premises when a variant case is found and ensuring testing is directed there as well. He highlighted the £500 isolation payment in place, data sharing with local directors of public health, and care home vaccination progress.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
Question
Hunt asked to crown 2021 as a significant year for the social care sector, akin to the founding of the NHS in 1948, with commitments on long-term financial settlement and implementation of Dilnot.
Minister reply
Hancock committed to delivering manifesto promises on social care alongside ongoing pandemic efforts. He stated that the Prime Minister has set out a timetable for delivery.
Central Ayrshire
Question
Asked about the Government's response to the South African variant, expressing concern over internal travel restrictions and genomic testing, and questioned why mandatory quarantine was not enforced despite SAGE advice.
Minister reply
Emphasised the importance of genomic surveillance capacity and pointed out that rules against non-essential travel are in place. Also mentioned the rapid roll-out of vaccines as a way to combat variants.
Robert Halfon
Con
Southend East
Question
Expressed gratitude for vaccine work, asked about prioritisation of adults with learning disabilities in vaccination programmes.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the hard work in Harlow and mentioned that JCVI is considering prioritisation. Stressed the importance of following clinical advice.
Angela Eagle
Lab
Wallasey
Question
Challenged the Government's response to new variants, stating it was too little and too late.
Minister reply
Defended the removal of travel corridors as a necessary step to protect from new variants.
Philip Hollobone
Con
Kettering
Question
Complimented Health Secretary on vaccine roll-out decisions and mentioned NHS Northamptonshire's success.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the hard work of staff in Northamptonshire and elsewhere, highlighting early risk-taking decisions.
Zarah Sultana
Lab
Coventry South
Question
Asked if the Secretary regrets not pursuing a zero-covid strategy and questioned the Government's approach.
Minister reply
Defended vaccine roll-out as the best approach, stating it offers hope and is critical in fighting virus.
Rob Roberts
Con
Delyn
Question
Paid tribute to NHS staff and volunteers for progress in north Wales on vaccine roll-out.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the hard work of all involved and praised their efforts.
Dan Carden
Lab
Liverpool Walton
Question
Asked about lessons from failures and successes, test and trace system improvements, and support for those not entitled to sick pay.
Minister reply
Acknowledged importance of £500 payments and improvements in test and trace, praising the rapid roll-out of vaccines.
Steve Brine
Con
Winchester
Question
Expressed support for the Secretary's approach to vaccine roll-out and its impact on society release.
Minister reply
Confirmed that the Government will follow an increasing number of countries in Europe and stick to releasing society as vaccines roll out.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
With the Prince’s Trust reporting a record high of more than half of young people often feeling anxious, and some A&Es reporting daily seeing children coming in after self-harming or overdosing, it is clear that the pandemic is taking an enormous toll on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing due to school closures, family pressures, social isolation, and bereavement. Will the Secretary of State commit today, in children’s mental health week, urgently to form a cross-departmental plan for tackling the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and young people?
Minister reply
We have put a significant amount of extra funding into supporting children’s mental health alongside adult mental health. We know that one of the consequences of the lockdown, which is absolutely necessary, is that it puts significant pressure on mental health services.
Mark Harper
Con
Sherwood
Question
May I add my congratulations to those who have been rolling out the vaccine?... Given that the vaccine roll-out is going so well and is, I suspect, ahead of where the Secretary of State thought it would be, will he confirm that when schools start going back on 8 March, it will be those two metrics falling—deaths and hospitalisations—that will guide the reopening of not just schools but the rest of the economy?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister has set out four metrics that we will follow. Deaths and hospitalisations are two of them, and they are both incredibly important.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for his and his Department’s wisdom and forethought in securing the vaccine for all of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland—better together; I always say that, and it is the truth. What discussions has his Department had with the Treasury to secure additional financial support to enable each devolved Administration to carry out similar schemes if the need arises in every part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Minister reply
We of course stand ready to put in place financial support for the devolved nations, should that be needed to tackle outbreaks such as this. We have a constant conversation with the devolved authorities.
Graham Brady
Con
Altrincham and Sale West
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for repeating his commitment to ensuring that schools can reopen as soon as it is safe to do so... Will he reiterate the huge importance of putting children’s mental health and wellbeing alongside the other onerous responsibilities that he bears?
Minister reply
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has been clear in describing the negative impact of school closures.
Ruth Jones
Lab
Newport West
Question
Will the Secretary of State update the House on any conversations he may have had with the pharmaceutical companies about the need to modify the vaccine in the light of the new variants?
Minister reply
We are working with pharmaceutical companies and the scientists to understand whether and where such modifications are needed and how they can be brought to use on the frontline as quickly as is safely possible.
David Morris
Con
Morecambe and Lonsdale
Question
There have been scare stories in Lancashire about vaccines being diverted to elsewhere in the country, causing a shortage and perpetuating further urban myths... Will the Secretary of State assure me and the House that my constituents will be covered, that vaccines are not being redirected to other regions of the UK, and that Lancashire will continue to receive the required proportions in the future?
Minister reply
Yes, I can give my hon. Friend that absolute assurance. Of course, the supply of vaccines is the rate-limiting step.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
I add my congratulations to the workers in the NHS who are delivering the roll-out of the vaccine... Does the Secretary of State agree that we should plan to vaccinate school staff if at all possible before half-term, if not during it?
Minister reply
The challenge with the proposal the hon. Gentleman puts forward is that vaccinating those who are not as vulnerable to the disease before those who are more vulnerable would essentially increase the overall clinical vulnerability to the disease.
Julian Sturdy
Con
York Outer
Question
Further to the Prime Minister’s suggestion yesterday in Batley that we may not see a return to different regional tier restrictions due to the virus’s behaviour, how will the Government avoid unfairly disadvantaging areas with low covid rates? Or does the fantastic vaccination programme roll-out mean that the whole country can now make steady progress out of lockdown together?
Minister reply
That is our goal—that the whole country can make steady progress together. In fact, case rates across the UK are more similar in all parts of the UK than they have been for some time.
Julie Elliott
Lab
Sunderland Central
Question
The Secretary of State will know that I have written to him several times recently on the subject of the gut microbiome, which the immune system heavily depends on, and its impact on covid-19... Will he meet me to discuss the emerging research, including on the use of prebiotics and probiotics, and positive mitigation of the impact of the worst effects of covid-19, helping people to suffer less and saving the NHS money?
Minister reply
I am very happy for either me or one of my team to meet the hon. Lady to discuss this issue and make sure that it is looked into properly.
James Davies
Constituency not specified
Question
The development, production and roll-out of vaccines in Britain is increasingly envied across the world, and the Wockhardt factory in north Wales is playing its part in that process. What plans does my right hon. Friend have to increase the production of vaccines in the UK further, both to meet our own needs and to allow us to assist our friends in the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere?
Minister reply
The onshoring of vaccine manufacturing is an incredibly important part of our strategy. We have built that manufacturing capability at Wockhardt on the Wrexham industrial estate and also now with production in Scotland, Teesside and elsewhere, with more to come. It is a strategic choice for this country to bring onshore the manufacturing in critical industries and products such as vaccines.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Question
Dr Wendy Jones, who operates the drugs in breastmilk helpline, is continuing to get queries from people who have been told that they cannot get the vaccination if they are breastfeeding. Could I ask the Secretary of State to make it absolutely crystal clear that there is not a contraindication and that those who are breastfeeding should get the covid vaccination?
Minister reply
I will ensure that the chief medical officer writes to the hon. Lady setting out the precise clinical details of this point, because while she is right, I do not want to opine on the clinical points; I want to make sure that that comes from the top doctor in the land.
Matt Vickers
Con
Stockton West
Question
A huge debt of gratitude is owed to all those involved in our incredible, world-leading vaccination programme, including Teesside’s hospital, our primary care network and the Fairfield pharmacy. Can my right hon. Friend confirm when Teesside will benefit from a mass vaccination site so that we can get more jabs into the arms of Teessiders as soon as possible?
Minister reply
The performance of people on Teesside in getting the jab rolled out so fast has been absolutely magnificent and I am very happy to look into when we might be able to open a Teesside mass vaccination centre, but what I can say is that across Teesside the roll-out is going well.
Tony Lloyd
Lab
Rochdale
Question
May I join the Secretary of State in congratulating those in my constituency who have worked so hard on rolling out the vaccine? At the moment, people are given roughly a week’s notice of the quantity and type of vaccine that they will receive. Can flexibility be built in for the second round to ensure proper delivery?
Minister reply
I absolutely understand the point that the hon. Gentleman makes and I join him in what he says. The challenge is that the supply schedule is lumpy, but there is certainty in the fact that we have a high degree of confidence that the second doses will be available according to need.
Jason McCartney
Con
Colne Valley
Question
More than 400 people were vaccinated at the new pharmacy-led vaccination centre at Honley village hall yesterday. The new vaccination centre at John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield is also open, as Yorkshire continues to lead the way with the vaccine roll-out. Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking our NHS and wonderful community volunteers for this great national effort?
Minister reply
Yes, I will. The vaccination effort right across Yorkshire has been absolutely fantastic. We will deliver on that offer to everybody in the top four vulnerable categories by 15 February and then vaccinate all others who are in the vulnerable cohorts.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Question
In answer to my written question to the Home Office, I was informed that Border Force does not hold records of the number of staff who have tested positive for covid-19 in the past 12 months. What conversations is the Secretary of State having with his Cabinet colleagues and Government agencies to ensure the safety of essential civil servants?
Minister reply
We are having those conversations all the time. In fact, I spoke to both the Home Secretary and the Transport Secretary about this issue yesterday, ensuring that we have widespread workplace testing available for all civil servants right across the UK.
Nusrat Ghani
Con
Sussex Weald
Question
The vaccination programme is working at a fantastic pace in my care homes and across the constituency. I come also with thanks to my right hon. Friend. Now, however, I am being flooded by messages from parents, grandparents and teachers who want no further delays to school openings; any assurances would be welcome.
Minister reply
We want to provide as much support as possible. I am really glad that the vaccine roll-out is going well in Wealden and thank everybody who is playing their part in that.
Ben Bradshaw
Lab
Exeter
Question
Why does it not make sense for teachers and other essential frontline workers to be vaccinated before perfectly fit and healthy people—in their 60s—like us?
Minister reply
Because people in their 60s are more likely to die from covid than people who are younger.
Adam Afriyie
Con
Windsor
Question
Our world-leading vaccines programme will mean that deaths and hospitalisations for serious ill health will fall massively—probably to normal levels by around 8 March. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that schools will be the first to reopen on or before 8 March?
Minister reply
I can confirm what the Prime Minister has set out: schools will be the first in the queue for reopening. We will consider the data in the middle of this month, and we will give two weeks’ notice.
Arfon
Question
The Health Minister in Wales has now admitted that many lives could have been saved had the Welsh Labour Government locked down sooner last year. Does the Secretary of State believe that an earlier general lockdown in England would have saved many lives? If so, how does that belief inform the quarantine and lockdown decisions his Government now face?
Minister reply
We have taken action very rapidly when we have seen rises in cases. The most recent example here in England was at the start of this year, when we saw the sharp spike in cases and took very rapid action to close schools.
Tobias Ellwood
Con
Bournemouth East
Question
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on doing such a phenomenal job in rolling out the life-saving vaccine throughout the country. We have both the means and desire to help others who do not have advanced public health infrastructure systems as ours. Will my right hon. Friend work with the Secretary of State for Defence and Foreign Secretary to allocate overseas funds to create an international vaccination taskforce, utilising military assets such as RFA Argus to assist practically with the international roll-out of vaccines?
Minister reply
I would be happy to talk to the Secretary of State for Defence about that idea because we are leaning into the global vaccination effort not just with funding but with practical support.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Question
One year after the UK’s first covid patient arrived at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, I know the Secretary of State will want to join me in congratulating Newcastle’s NHS staff, GPs, public health professionals, volunteers and all those leading the way in vaccinating so many, so quickly. Will he agree to reward such success by handing more resources and control over the failing test and trace programme to local public health teams?
Minister reply
Yes, absolutely. Local authorities are critical to this, and we are working with directors of public health as part of the effort.
Question
What message could my right hon Friend give to the people of Dewsbury, Mirfield, Kirkburton and Denby Dale who may be thinking twice about having an inoculation when given the opportunity?
Minister reply
I would say to everybody that they should listen to their local representative and to all those who have looked at the impact of the vaccine. We can see that it saves lives and is safe to take, and that rumours spread on the internet are not facts.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Question
What variant did he refer to in relation to a number of cases in Liverpool? Will he push his Cabinet colleagues to plug gaps in financial support so that everybody can play their part and stay at home?
Minister reply
We have put in place the £500 support to ensure everyone can afford to self-isolate. For Southport, we are undertaking significant action to isolate the spread of the variant. Cases in Liverpool were mentioned by local media a couple of weeks ago.
Question
Yesterday I spoke with Mrs Bunny England, who is housebound and no one has contacted her about vaccination. Can he ensure that we will be able to get to every single person in groups 1 to 4 who is housebound by 15 February?
Minister reply
Mrs Bunny England is certainly going to get her jab now. We have roving teams right across the country going to people who are housebound, and we are on track to ensure everyone can have the offer of a vaccination by 15 February.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
Question
Last week I visited new pharmacy-led vaccination centres in my constituency. They are struggling with confusion caused by two online booking systems, seeing patients sent to distant centres and unable to get appointments as the national booking system is not updated. Will he look into these issues urgently?
Minister reply
First, may I pay tribute to his leadership in promoting vaccination? Of course I will look into the specific issue raised. The Minister for vaccine deployment, my hon Friend Nadhim Zahawi, will call him to discuss this specifically.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
Question
Sussex reached twin milestones of vaccinating 85% of its over-80s and every care home bar the small number with recent outbreaks. Will he join me in thanking Siobhan Melia, Adam Doyle and their teams in NHS Sussex, and all GPs and volunteers in Arundel and South Downs?
Minister reply
Absolutely; I am very happy to congratulate everyone in Arundel and South Downs and across Sussex who have done a magnificent job so far. The spirit shown is really uplifting.
Question
Before we get too euphoric, can he remind him that 406 people died yesterday of covid and that 70 people have died in Huddersfield hospitals since 1 January? The fight is still on, but will he please stop the Prime Minister breaking all the rules?
Minister reply
The hon Gentleman was doing so well; I agreed with all until the last bit. Of course the PM is going to go around the country and thank people for their efforts. Travelling around the country to thank people is an important part of keeping the nation going.
Question
Among the half a million vaccinations provided across the country last Saturday were 750 at Locke House in Rugby, where more than 11,000 have already been given and priority groups 1 to 4 will be completed ahead of schedule. Will he thank everyone involved, particularly volunteers? Could he say a little more about ensuring that second doses match the first?
Minister reply
I am delighted to hear Rugby is going to deliver on everyone in categories 1 to 4 having an offer of a jab a week early. We have confidence in supplies of vaccine to ensure everybody can get a second jab of the same variety as they had the first, unless there is a specific clinical reason.
Chris Stephens
SNP
Glasgow North East
Question
According to the Global Institute, high-income countries representing 16% of the world’s population currently have about 60% of the vaccines purchased so far. So can the Secretary of State tell us what plans the Government have to start sharing supplies with low-income and middle-income countries? Can he share with us the Government’s plans on an international approach?
Minister reply
This is a very important question. Although I am incredibly proud of the UK vaccine roll-out and very pleased that we bought early so that we have access to the supplies of 407 million doses, we are also deeply aware of our international obligations, with the provision of the Oxford vaccine to the world, but also the financial support essentially through COVAX and GAVI, to make sure that people across the world have access to this vaccine. It is not “either/or”; it is “and”. Although my first priority and responsibility as UK Health Secretary is to ensure that the UK has access to this vaccine, this disease has demonstrated that it does not respect international boundaries and it is important that everywhere gets access to the jab.
Manchester Withington
Question
The variant of covid that was first identified from South African samples has been found within the PR9 postcode. That postcode covers the town of Banks, which is within South Ribble in Lancashire. There is understandable concern among residents and a celebratable desire to do the right thing. Can my right hon. Friend offer any reassurance to the residents so close to Southport, and set out what they can do with testing, for example, to do the right thing in this situation?
Minister reply
Absolutely. Sefton Council leads on this particular outbreak, but I understand that there are some residents in Lancashire who are in that postcode area. The website sets out where the door-to-door testing will cover and the activities that the council is leading on, working with us, making sure that we get testing as broad as possible.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract and Castleford
Question
The Health Secretary rightly said that our mission should be to stop the South African variant spreading. The community spread shows that border measures are failing to do that. He has set out no timetable for quarantine hotels today and, seven weeks after the variant was identified, it is still possible for people to travel home from South Africa and elsewhere, with no quarantine hotels, no quarantine taxis and no test on arrival, and go straight on to public transport in the UK. Why is that still allowed and how long is he going to allow it?
Minister reply
As the right hon. Lady knows, we have brought in very significant measures at the border to control the arrival of those from countries at risk, for instance, South Africa and other southern African nations, Brazil and nations around Brazil, and Portugal. The self-isolation requirements that she mentions are absolutely critical, but we are also of course looking at what further measures are necessary.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Goole
Question
The roll-out of vaccines in north and north-east Lincolnshire is going extremely well and I am sure that my right hon. Friend will want to join me in congratulating all those involved on their magnificent efforts. To follow on from questions about the housebound, yesterday I was contacted by the family of an elderly gentleman who lives alone in a rural part of my constituency, who received an invitation for a vaccination at a centre considerably far from his home, and he wanted it locally. I appreciate that there is a follow-up, but the initial letter can cause confusion for people. Will my right hon. Friend do all he can to assure me that the follow-up letter inviting people for a local vaccination comes swiftly after that first letter?
Minister reply
Yes, I am happy to work with my hon. Friend. The best thing might be if I ask the Minister for Vaccine Deployment to call him straightaway to ensure that his constituent gets the vaccination as locally as possible.
Layla Moran
LD
Oxford West and Abingdon
Question
I welcome the commitment from the Secretary of State to lean in, I think he said, to the international effort to roll-out vaccines everywhere across the world. No one is safe until we are all safe, anywhere, not least because if we do not do this in tandem, it increases the chances of variants coming here that would undermine our own impressive efforts. When does the Government plan to start parallel distribution of the vaccine, particularly to low-income countries, some of which have had no vaccines at all? Should it not be as soon as we have completed the vaccination of our clinically most vulnerable?
Minister reply
After we have completed the vaccination of the clinically extremely vulnerable, there are still many millions of people here who are at risk of dying from this dreadful disease. We will absolutely lean in to the international effort. Thanks to the fact that we chose not to join the EU scheme, we are of course far further ahead than we would have been otherwise, as the hon. Lady knows. We will play that vital role internationally, but she will also understand why it is so important that we fulfil our first duty to keep people in the UK safe.
Fay Jones
Con
Brecon and Radnorshire
Question
It has been a privilege to be one of the volunteers at my local vaccination centre in Builth Wells and I commend Powys Teaching Health Board and all the vaccination staff for their efforts. Residents in Ystradgynlais, the largest town in my constituency, currently have to travel more than 50 miles to get their jabs. As a result, the local GP is working almost around the clock to ensure that people who cannot travel can get their vaccine. As well as thanking everyone involved in delivering the vaccine in Brecon and Radnorshire, will my right hon. Friend confirm that the roll-out is an agile system and that the Government will not allow the challenge of rural areas to impede our progress?
Minister reply
Yes. Across England, we have set the goal of having a vaccination centre within 10 miles of where anybody lives. It is harder in more rural parts, such as my hon. Friend’s constituency, of course. We are absolutely willing to support the Welsh NHS in delivery locally. In fact, the British armed services are involved in support of the roll-out across Wales, as they are in England. I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss what more we can do to ensure that people can get the vaccination as easily and closely as possible in her sparse and very beautiful constituency.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon
Question
A new research paper published today by Newcastle University demonstrates the link between poor mental health and welfare support, and this pandemic has particularly tested the mental health of so many of us. Will the Secretary of State urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to keep the £20 universal credit top-up after March and to extend it to those on legacy benefits so that the mental health of those on benefits is not even more affected?
Minister reply
I will take those representations to my Cabinet colleagues, as I know that they are working hard to ensure that everybody gets the support they need.
David Evennett
Con
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Question
The roll-out of the vaccine across my borough of Bexley has been very successful to date, and I congratulate all involved. Will my right hon. Friend note that NHS information and co-operation across our area of south-east London has been absolutely superb? Will he confirm, though, that the second doses of the vaccine will be delivered on time, including to the housebound?
Minister reply
Yes. The second doses are important. Although the time from the first dose to the second is 12 weeks, that does not make it any less important that we have the vaccines ready. We have a high degree of confidence that they will be there and we are already planning for the roll-out of the second doses; we know when each of those doses becomes due, because it is 12 weeks after the first dose. That planning is in hand and, frankly, compared with the time we have had for planning during most of the pandemic, 12 weeks is an absolute age.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South
Question
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation states that the implementation of the vaccine should also involve flexibility in vaccine deployment at a local level, with due attention to, among other things, mitigating health inequalities. Will the Health Secretary outline whether his Department believes that homeless people who have complex health conditions because of their accommodation status should be prioritised for vaccination?
Minister reply
Yes, I am working with the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary on a specific programme for the roll-out of the vaccine to people who are homeless.
David Amess
Con
Southend West
Question
I very much associate myself with my right hon. Friend’s remarks about the noble Lord Fowler, who of course was in charge of the combined Department of Health and Social Security. While I applaud the Government’s very wise decision not to sign up to the EU vaccination procurement programme, when I visit Highlands vaccination centre tomorrow, will I be able to reassure my constituents that they will still receive their second doses of vaccine on time now that we have left the European Union?
Minister reply
Yes, I am glad to say that we are working with our EU counterparts to ensure the fair distribution and manufacture of vaccines according to signed contracts, which is the right and proper way that it should be. Thankfully we signed those contracts early and we made sure that we got solid contracts to deliver the necessary doses to the UK. I look forward to those being delivered on, and I have assurances from all quarters that that is what will now happen.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
We know that there is a reduced antibody response against the new covid variants for vaccinated blood, but what is the level of change in vaccine efficacy, and what action is under way to update and approve new vaccines to address this? I am particularly thinking of the E484K mutation found in both the Brazilian and South African variants.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is absolutely right to ask this critical question. We are doing a huge amount with the scientists and the pharmaceutical industry to develop modified vaccines should they be necessary. We are also monitoring the results of work to understand the efficacy of the existing vaccines against the variants of concern. We do not have a point estimate for the difference in the efficacy of the vaccine. The efficacy needs to be measured both in terms of someone’s likelihood of catching the disease and in terms of their likelihood of being hospitalised or dying from the disease. There is a significant amount of work under way to understand all those things, both in labs and in the field. For instance, AstraZeneca has a trial in South Africa that it is revisiting to understand the progress of those who were vaccinated as part of the trial. We will publish as much information as we get as soon as we credibly can.
Question
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his decisions of last year to guarantee the surplus supplies of vaccine, and I thank all the NHS staff and volunteers in Wimbledon who are delivering it. Clearly, getting the vaccine rolled out as fast as possible is key. Therefore, can he confirm that he will make sure that best practice advice is being given to every vaccine centre to ensure that there are no supplies unused at the end of the day and that there is a reserve list for appointments?
Minister reply
The vaccine programme has been enormous hard work by a huge number of people. It is very heartening to see it progress as it is, including in Wimbledon, where it is going well, and I am very grateful for my hon. Friend’s support in making that happen. The need to use every last drop of this precious vaccine is paramount. The standard operating protocol clearly states that all vaccine doses that are available should be used. If we can get 11 doses out of the 10-dose AstraZeneca vial, then we should do so. It is now standard practice to get six doses out of the previously five-dose Pfizer vial. There should also be a reserve list of people in categories 1 to 4 who can be called up at the end of the day if there is any spare. But the most important thing is that if the vaccine is going off—if it is coming to the end of its time out of the freezer, for the Pfizer jab—then it should be used in all circumstances. We need to use every last drop.
Shadow Comment
Jon Ashworth
Shadow Comment
Mr Ashworth expressed concern over the detection of new variants, specifically asking for clearer timelines regarding when cases were identified and how long genetic sequencing takes. He questioned why hotel quarantine measures are not in place until February 15th despite warnings from SAGE two weeks ago about tougher restrictions being necessary. Regarding testing initiatives, he suggested that these should be extended to neighbouring postcodes due to people's movement beyond their own areas. Mr Ashworth also raised issues around vaccine hesitancy among care staff and teachers who might have to wait until after Easter for vaccination. He emphasised the need to ensure schools do not face further disruptions when reopening in March.
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