Covid-19: Winter Plan Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Covid-19: Winter Plan

Bill Wiggin Excerpts
Monday 23rd November 2020

(3 years, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
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The hon. Gentleman will have to forgive me; I think that was a request to meet him. I am very happy to ensure that his request is taken up at the appropriate ministerial level. I think his question was about support for those who have suffered during lockdown. I am more than happy to do what I can to help.

Bill Wiggin Portrait Bill Wiggin (North Herefordshire) (Con) [V]
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I thank Tom Keith-Roach of AstraZeneca for producing a vaccine that, when fairly compared, is actually 90% effective. Will my right hon. Friend revisit the restrictions that he is proposing today if the vaccine is approved in the coming days?

Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to be optimistic about the AstraZeneca vaccine. The trouble is that it may not be deployed or, indeed, deployable on a rapid enough timescale to allow us to dispense with the kind of restraints that we need to employ. The risk is that we would simply see a surge in the virus and a devastating impact on communities before we got those shots into people’s arms.