Asked by: Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement that under-30s in England will now be invited for their COVID-19 vaccinations, (1) what arrangements they have made for those who (a) have anaphylaxis and cannot have the Pfizer vaccine, and (b) cannot have the Astrazenca jab due to age; and (2) how they will ensure that the Moderna vaccine is made available to such individuals.
Answered by Lord Bethell
If an individual is allergic to any component of a COVID-19 vaccine, they may be directed towards a suitable alternative vaccine following a discussion with a healthcare professional.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that it is preferable for adults aged under 30 years old without underlying health conditions that put them at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, to be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, if available. The JCVI currently advises that in addition to those aged under 30 years old, unvaccinated adults aged 30-39 years old who are not in a clinical priority cohort at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, should also be preferentially offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, where available.
If a person is under 40 years old, the National Booking Service will direct them to appointments for the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
Asked by: Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that those seeking support for managing pain are offered a choice of options through the NHS including mindfulness-based therapies, to reduce the proportion of treatments that rely on medication and the risk of overprescribing.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain, published in April 2021, recommends a range of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for pain management. NICE found there was insufficient evidence on mindfulness to recommend it as an option for pain management within this guideline. However, it made recommendations for research on mindfulness to inform future guidance. A copy of NICE’s guideline is attached.
The National Health Service is also taking a holistic approach to supporting people’s health and wellbeing by expanding its social prescribing services. This enables general practitioners to refer people to community groups and agencies for practical, emotional and social support, for example when managing pain.
Asked by: Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what tuition is given to undergraduate medical students in England and Wales on the subject of allergies and associated conditions.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Department does not hold this information.
It is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC) to set the standards and outcomes for education and training and approve training curricula to ensure newly qualified healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide high quality patient care.
Higher education institutions are responsible for ensuring the programmes they provide allow medical students to meet the outcomes set out by the GMC upon graduation.
Asked by: Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the length of time that patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria wait between initial diagnosis and referral to a specialist in England.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The information requested is not held centrally and no assessment has been made.