Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Vaccines

Tuesday 2 March 2021 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK will use its G7 presidency to advance equitable access to safe and effective vaccines through widespread international cooperation.
  • The UK has contributed 548 million to COVAX AMC to secure over 1 billion doses.
  • The UK has made difficult decisions regarding its 0.7% spending allocation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Theo Clarke
Foreign Affairs
Context

There is ongoing work on vaccine development both domestically and internationally. The UK has a prominent role in this through its G7 presidency.

Question

What diplomatic steps the Government are taking to support the development of covid-19 vaccines (a) in the UK and (b) throughout the world?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The UK will use its G7 presidency this year to advance equitable access to safe and effective vaccines through widespread international co-operation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific diplomatic steps or details on vaccine development efforts in the UK or internationally beyond general statements about cooperation.

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Q2 Theo Clarke
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

During a visit to Kenya, there was excitement about the upcoming delivery of some covid-19 vaccines under COVAX. The question raises concerns about ensuring that surplus capacity is used effectively and donations are made.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is essential that we not only allow countries to access our surplus capacity via COVAX but donate vaccines to the poorest countries in the world?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the great work she is doing locally but also for raising the issue of international access to the vaccine. She will know that the UK has contributed £548 million to COVAX AMC, which is the international mechanism that will secure over 1 billion doses. In relation to her virtual Kenya visit, the roll-out of the first deliveries under COVAX has now begun in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, and by the end of June, in 92 of these poorer countries, we want to see all the vulnerable receiving their vaccines.

Answered
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Q3 Stephen Doughty Labour (Co-op) Cardiff South and Penarth
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

There are concerns about maintaining funding for public health systems in poorer countries, especially with ongoing issues like malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis, and Ebola.

Question

We have a moral duty to do our fair share, and it is in our global common interest. Will the Foreign Secretary be maintaining our overall bilateral and multilateral health spending, or will it be cut?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The hon. Gentleman is right to pay tribute to the work that the UK has done internationally not just on COVAX and the vaccine for this pandemic but on TB, malaria, polio and a whole range of other areas. We have had to make the difficult decision on the 0.7%, and the allocations will be published in due course, but we have been very clear that public health is the No.1 priority to be safeguarded across the piece.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a direct commitment regarding whether there will be continued funding or cuts to overall bilateral and multilateral health spending, only reiterating the importance of public health as a priority.

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