Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Vaccine Access

Tuesday 19 January 2021 · 9 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK is committed to rapid equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines through multilateral collaboration and has pledged 548 million to the COVAX AMC.
  • The UK Government supports equitable global access through initiatives like the COVAX facility and has committed to supplying 1 billion doses in 2021.
  • The UK emphasizes the importance of a robust intellectual property system for innovation and supports non-exclusive voluntary licensing over compulsory licensing for long-term benefits.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Pawsey Con
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

Discusses the UK's role in supporting global vaccine development and distribution.

Question

What diplomatic steps are being taken to support the development and distribution of covid-19 vaccines both in the UK and globally?

Answer from Wendy Morton

The UK is committed to rapid equitable access through multilateral collaboration. We are combining our diplomatic influencing, development expertise, and financial contributions. The UK has committed £548 million to the COVAX AMC, which aims for global equitable access.

Answered
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Q2 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

Criticizes hoarding of vaccines by richer nations as morally unacceptable.

Question

The world is on the brink of a moral failure due to lack of collaborative global approach. Does the Minister agree that hoarding vaccines by richer nations is unforgivable and unconscionable, and that we must work collectively for the betterment of all humanity?

Answer from Wendy Morton

The hon. Gentleman makes a really important point. The UK is at the forefront of multilateral efforts to ensure equitable global access through the COVAX facility, contributing to the supply of 1 billion doses in 2021 and the vaccination of 500 million people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agreement on hoarding vaccines as morally unacceptable

How: Working Collectively For Betterment

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Q3 Bell Ribeiro-Addy Lab Clapham and Brixton Hill
NHS
Context

Highlights the stark disparity in vaccine distribution between wealthy and poor countries.

Question

Vaccine doses administered in 49 higher income countries versus just 25 in a poorer country. Does the Minister agree that global equality on vaccine roll-out should be both moral and strategic to stop virus spread? If so, why do her Government not support waiving IP rights?

Answer from Wendy Morton

When it comes to vaccines, we have been very clear that we support equitable access through the COVAX facility. A robust and fair IP system is key to innovation and benefits society. Non-exclusive voluntary licensing has advantages over compulsory licensing for long-term beneficial relationships.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agreement on waiving intellectual property rights

How: Supporting Equitable Access Through Covax

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Q4 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS
Context

Highlights the need for overcoming intellectual property rights to enable local manufacture of vaccines in developing countries.

Question

None of us is safe until all are. With virus threat, we are at risk till world vaccinated. Will Minister say what work her Government have done on overcoming IP rights for vaccine manufacture in global south?

Answer from Wendy Morton

A robust and fair intellectual property system is key to innovation and benefits society. Non-exclusive voluntary licensing has advantages over compulsory licensing for long-term beneficial relationships and incentives to create new inventions such as life-changing vaccines.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on work done to overcome IP rights

How: Robust Ip System

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Q5 Jamie Wallis
Foreign Affairs
Context

Asks about specific steps taken by the Department to ensure poorest and most disadvantaged countries have access to vaccines.

Question

What steps is her Department taking to ensure that the poorest and most disadvantaged countries have access to vaccines?

Answer from Wendy Morton

Our commitment will support access to covid-19 vaccines for up to 92 developing countries through the COVAX AMC facility, contributing to the supply of 1 billion doses in 2021. The UK has committed £548 million to that facility and encouraged others to step up.

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Q6 Mark Pawsey Con
NHS
Context

Concerns about meeting international commitments on vaccination if aid levels reduced from 0.7% of GDP.

Question

Is she confident that we will be able to continue to meet our international commitments on vaccination if we reduce our levels of aid from 0.7% of GDP?

Answer from Wendy Morton

We are a world-leading aid donor, spending 0.5% percent of GNI. The UK committed £1.65 billion over the next five years to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which will immunise 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives.

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Q7 Alyn Smith
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the concern that vaccine nationalism is harmful and the global community needs multilateral cooperation. There is a $4.3 billion shortfall in funding for COVAX, which aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines.

Question

I echo concerns about vaccine nationalism being dangerous and self-defeating. The UK has donated to COVAX but there's a $4.3 billion dollar shortfall. Nobody is safe until everyone is. What plans are there to convene a Gavi II summit for international donors to work together on equitable access? Will the government condemn those indulging in vaccine nationalism?

Answer from Wendy Morton

The UK Government is committed to equitable global access through multilateral efforts. We contributed to CEPI, FIND, Gavi, and the COVAX AMC early in the pandemic. These contributions help the world's poorest. We also flexed normal aid work to support countries suffering from secondary impacts of the pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans for a Gavi II summit and condemnation of vaccine nationalism were not addressed.

How: I Commend The Work On Vaccination, We Are Committed To Equitable Access

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Q8 Preet Kaur Gill Labour (Co-op) Birmingham Edgbaston
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question is raised due to concerns over transparency and accountability from the Government. The World Health Organisation has requested all bilateral contracts for covid-19 vaccines be made public.

Question

We have an opportunity to save lives and livelihoods by cooperating with other countries. However, the Government's lack of transparency undermines this effort. Will the UK fulfil the WHO's request from yesterday to make public all bilateral contracts on volumes, pricing, delivery dates for covid-19 vaccines?

Answer from Wendy Morton

We are at the forefront of multilateral efforts on equitable global access. We contributed to CEPI early in the pandemic and to FIND, Gavi, and the COVAX AMC. This is about helping the world's poorest. We also flexed normal aid work to support countries suffering from secondary impacts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Publication of contracts was not addressed specifically.

How: I Do Not Accept Assertions On Transparency, We Are At Forefront Of Multilateral Efforts

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Q9 Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham
Economy Foreign Affairs Women & Equalities
Context

The International Development Committee has highlighted secondary impacts on developing countries such as economic suffering and gender inequality. The FCDO needs to prepare for recovery efforts.

Question

Vaccines alone are not enough; there's significant economic damage due to healthcare issues and gender inequality in developing nations post-pandemic. What preparations is the FCDO making to prevent a development mountain after the pandemic?

Answer from Wendy Morton

We remain at the forefront on covid-19 with FCDO supporting the world's poorest. We continue support through funds and focus on the bottom billion. Working with development, public sector, private sector; example: £84 million invested in Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific preparations were not detailed.

How: We Continue To Support The World'S Poorest, Working With Development, Public And Private Sectors

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