Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine Vaxrevia ended in the UK; and for what reason that vaccine is no longer available.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was first deployed in England in January 2021. Having reached the end of the supply agreement with the Government, the vaccine has not been used in the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 vaccination programme since 2022. Since September 2021, in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the vaccines deployed in the national programme have primarily been mRNA vaccines that were considered to provide a strong booster response.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date he met representatives of those (a) injured and (b) bereaved as a result of Covid-19 vaccine damage; and what steps he has taken as a result of that meeting.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care met with the families of those who have suffered serious side effects from the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine on 11 September 2024. The families raised the need for the reform of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, and they requested a compensation scheme for those affected. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care listened to their concerns and agreed that the Government will look closely at this, as it continues to learn and apply the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9409 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, if he will launch a consultation with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to increase the limitation period for court claims relating to Covid-19 vaccines.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on individual claims or cases whilst there is ongoing litigation. It is right that such matters follow the appropriate legal process, which can take time. There are, however, currently no plans to launch a consultation on increasing the limitation period for court claims relating to COVID-19 vaccines.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9410 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, whether any line extensions to covid-19 vaccinations have been authorised to tackle reported adverse side effects, other than for the side effects listed in that Answer.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No modifications or line extensions to the original vaccines have been introduced to reduce side effects.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with Professor Adam Finn to discuss the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (a) 60% threshold, (b) levels of payments in the context of levels of inflation and (c) the potential impact of those factors on levels of public confidence in vaccines.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Whilst there are currently no plans to meet with Professor Adam Finn, the Government continues to listen carefully to the concerns raised about the Vaccine Damages Payment Scheme. As part of this consideration, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care met recently with Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK, and other representatives of those who have suffered harm.

Found: debate on amendments to the clause/schedule (Standing Order No. 68) Chairs: Mr Clive Betts Sir Christopher

Found: debate on amendments to the clause/schedule (Standing Order No. 68) Chairs: Mr Clive Betts Sir Christopher

Found: debate on amendments to the clause/schedule (Standing Order No. 68) Chairs: Mr Clive Betts Sir Christopher

The committee has a remit to scrutinise the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.  Much of the that scrutiny focuses on specific issues. But it also holds wider sessions looking at the work of the Department more broadly, often by speaking directly to the Secretary of State, but also bringing in the arms length and associated bodies.

Submit Evidence (by 13 Jan 2025)

The committee has launched an inquiry on how to build the workforce that is needed to deliver the policies and infrastructure for the UK’s clean, secure energy mission.  

Submit Evidence (by 13 Jan 2025)

The Committee has launched an inquiry into community energy. The Committee aims to:

Building on the evidence received in the previous Committee’s Heating our homes inquiry, the Committee will hold a one-off session on Retrofitting homes for net zero. The Committee will invite two stakeholder panels to consider the policy changes needed to deliver low carbon heating and energy efficient homes.