Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government for how long a person who has received the two-doses of the COVID-19 vaccine required under the vaccination protocols is able to transmit COVID-19 on to a second person
Answered by Lord Bethell
To date the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as well as independent expert advisors on the Commission on Human Medicines and its Expert Working Groups, have completed the assessment of the quality, safety and efficacy data only for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine is an mRNA vaccine and data supported a two dose regimen. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of prevention of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in terms of vulnerability to COVID-19 of the person vaccinated. Clinical trial data showed that, compared to the placebo, efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from first COVID-19 occurrence from seven days after dose two in participants with or without evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 was 94.6% - a 95% credible interval of 89.9% to 97.3%).
There is currently no data available regarding transmission of COVID-19 to others in a person who has been vaccinated using any of the COVID-19 vaccines. There is also currently no data available for any COVID-19 vaccine on the period after vaccination for which a person can remain asymptomatic.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the incidence of vaccinated people being able to pass on COVID-19 to those who have not been vaccinated in the trial COVID-19 vaccination programmes.
Answered by Lord Bethell
To date the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as well as independent expert advisors on the Commission on Human Medicines and its Expert Working Groups, have completed the assessment of the quality, safety and efficacy data only for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine is an mRNA vaccine and data supported a two dose regimen. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of prevention of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in terms of vulnerability to COVID-19 of the person vaccinated. Clinical trial data showed that, compared to the placebo, efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from first COVID-19 occurrence from seven days after dose two in participants with or without evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 was 94.6% - a 95% credible interval of 89.9% to 97.3%).
There is currently no data available regarding transmission of COVID-19 to others in a person who has been vaccinated using any of the COVID-19 vaccines. There is also currently no data available for any COVID-19 vaccine on the period after vaccination for which a person can remain asymptomatic.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government for how long a person who has received the two-doses of the COVID-19 vaccine required under the vaccination protocols can remain asymptomatic.
Answered by Lord Bethell
To date the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as well as independent expert advisors on the Commission on Human Medicines and its Expert Working Groups, have completed the assessment of the quality, safety and efficacy data only for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine is an mRNA vaccine and data supported a two dose regimen. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of prevention of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in terms of vulnerability to COVID-19 of the person vaccinated. Clinical trial data showed that, compared to the placebo, efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from first COVID-19 occurrence from seven days after dose two in participants with or without evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 was 94.6% - a 95% credible interval of 89.9% to 97.3%).
There is currently no data available regarding transmission of COVID-19 to others in a person who has been vaccinated using any of the COVID-19 vaccines. There is also currently no data available for any COVID-19 vaccine on the period after vaccination for which a person can remain asymptomatic.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether a person who has been vaccinated against COVID-19 can acquire COVID-19 asymptomatic status without indicators and transmit the virus on to another person who has not been vaccinated.
Answered by Lord Bethell
To date the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as well as independent expert advisors on the Commission on Human Medicines and its Expert Working Groups, have completed the assessment of the quality, safety and efficacy data only for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine is an mRNA vaccine and data supported a two dose regimen. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of prevention of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in terms of vulnerability to COVID-19 of the person vaccinated. Clinical trial data showed that, compared to the placebo, efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from first COVID-19 occurrence from seven days after dose two in participants with or without evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 was 94.6% - a 95% credible interval of 89.9% to 97.3%).
There is currently no data available regarding transmission of COVID-19 to others in a person who has been vaccinated using any of the COVID-19 vaccines. There is also currently no data available for any COVID-19 vaccine on the period after vaccination for which a person can remain asymptomatic.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether (1) an adenovirus vector, and (2) an mRNA, COVID-19 vaccine (a) does not prevent a vaccinated person from contracting COVID-19 but suppresses the symptoms of the disease, or (2) prevents a vaccinated person from contracting COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
To date the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as well as independent expert advisors on the Commission on Human Medicines and its Expert Working Groups, have completed the assessment of the quality, safety and efficacy data only for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine is an mRNA vaccine and data supported a two dose regimen. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of prevention of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in terms of vulnerability to COVID-19 of the person vaccinated. Clinical trial data showed that, compared to the placebo, efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from first COVID-19 occurrence from seven days after dose two in participants with or without evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 was 94.6% - a 95% credible interval of 89.9% to 97.3%).
There is currently no data available regarding transmission of COVID-19 to others in a person who has been vaccinated using any of the COVID-19 vaccines. There is also currently no data available for any COVID-19 vaccine on the period after vaccination for which a person can remain asymptomatic.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether statistics on testing for COVID-19 undertaken by private companies at the home of people being tested are entered into published statistics.
Answered by Lord Bethell
To provide a more comprehensive response to a number of outstanding Written Questions, this has been answered by an information factsheet Testing – note for House of Lords which is attached, due to the size of the data. A copy has also been placed in the Library
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (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 studies published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the University of Sydney and China Agricultural University on the G4 influenza virus.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The article Prevalent Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus with 2009 pandemic viral genes facilitating human infection published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on 29 June 2020 describes a surveillance study of pigs in slaughterhouses and a veterinary hospital in China carried out between 2011 and 2018.
Of the 30,934 samples from 10 different provinces, 165 tested positive for the Eurasian-avian (EA) like H1N1 swine influenza. Of those testing positive, 77 were selected for genetic sequencing, and 29 were identified as having the Genotype 4, described by the authors. The use of a ferret model indicated that the Genotype 4 virus can infect and transmit.
A serological study (analysis of antibodies in the blood) of farm workers on 15 farms over the period of the study, suggests that approximately 10-12% of farm workers had detectable, specific antibody to G4 H1N1 viruses, indicative of previous infection. The publication is not clear if these were farms that were directly related to the surveillance programme. It would also not be possible to determine when these infections occurred.
The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group is reviewing the risk associated with the genotype 4 (G4) reassortant Eurasian avian-like (EA) H1N1 virus, described in this publication.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are monitoring (1) the prevalence, and (2) the pandemic potential, of the G4 influenza virus.
Answered by Lord Bethell
We continually assess the most significant threats that the United Kingdom and its citizens could face, including natural hazard risks such as a pandemic influenza.
The Government continues to review and improve surveillance for potentially zoonotic and new and emerging infections, with early detection through horizon scanning and epidemic intelligence activities, research, and continually improving diagnostic techniques for the identification of zoonotic pathogens.
In line with our standard practice, Public Health England is undertaking a risk assessment of the G4 influenza virus and we will take any appropriate action based on robust scientific and clinical advice.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent the 'R' rate for COVID-19 includes an assessment of the number of people who self-treat at home with no hospital or emergency services intervention.
Answered by Lord Bethell
R is estimated by a number of independent modelling groups based at universities and Public Health England. Evidence from the different models is considered, discussed, combined, and then a consensus estimate is presented to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies as a range.
Individual modelling groups use a variety of different data sources to estimate R. This includes epidemiological data such as the number of hospital admissions and deaths, and surveys that gather information on the behaviour of individuals. The models include assumptions about numbers of individuals who require no health service intervention which are informed by a range of studies including household infection surveys.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to either local or national sponsored initiatives for the UK-manufacture of masks to protect against COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government is building up United Kingdom manufacturing with signed contracts to manufacture over two billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE) through UK-based manufacturers, including facemasks, visors, gowns and aprons.
Lord Deighton is leading the Government effort by British industry to manufacture PPE. The Government is currently in contact with over 350 potential UK manufacturers, and engineering efforts by small companies are being scaled up. We have already taken delivery of products from new, certified UK manufacturers. More new manufacturers of PPE are expected to commit to producing PPE in the coming weeks, with 25 opportunist companies in final commercial discussions.