Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of immunocompromised people have received a third covid-19 vaccine dose; and how that proportion varies by the condition causing compromised immunities.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Provisional weekly vaccine uptake data in people identified as immunosuppressed in England is published in the UKHealth Security Agency’s weekly COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-surveillance-reports
As of 21 November 2021, vaccine uptake among those identified as immunosuppressed with at least three doses in England was 69.7%. Further information on third doses by conditions causing immunosuppression is not available.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether people who have no immune response to the covid-19 vaccine will be given priority access to monoclonal antibody or antiviral treatments.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Immunocompromised individuals are a priority cohort for research into therapeutic and prophylaxis treatments, such as monoclonal antibody therapies and repurposed compounds.
Ronapreve is the first neutralising monoclonal antibody to receive marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to treat and prevent COVID-19. The interim clinical policy was updated on 4 November to expand treatment
to a wider group of hospitalised patients, which may include immunocompromised patients.
Xevudy (sotrovimab) has been approved by the MHRA as effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in people with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who are at an increased risk of developing severe disease. We will confirm how this treatment will be deployed to patients in due course. On 20 October, we announced two oral antiviral treatments for United Kingdom patients. Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) has now received MHRA authorisation, while PF-07321332 (Paxlovid) is pending approval from the MHRA.
Antivirals will be deployed initially through a national study prioritising those most at risk from COVID-19, including those who are immunocompromised and will identify those who will benefit most from treatment. The Department will provide more information on the national study, including eligibility, in due course.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the recommended time is between patients with compromised immune systems receiving a third dose of covid-19 vaccine and receiving a booster dose of that vaccine.
Answered by Maggie Throup
On 29 November, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advised that severely immunosuppressed individuals who have completed their primary course of three doses should be offered a booster vaccination with a minimum of three months between the third primary and booster dose. Those who have not yet received their third dose may be given the third dose now to avoid further delay. A further booster dose can be given in three months, in line with the clinical advice on optimal timing. The Government has accepted this advice.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many funds are allocated to local authorities by his Department through a process of competitive bidding; and if he will publish the names of those funds.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The five grant funded schemes allocated in 2021-22 which involved a competitive bidding process are as follows:
- Rough Sleepers Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant Scheme;
- Children of Alcohol Dependent Parents;
- Child and Family Weight Management Services;
- Shared Outcomes Fund – Rough Sleepers; and
- Self-Isolation Pilots.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of covid-19 vaccinations have been delivered by GP surgeries to date.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Data on the proportion of COVID-19 vaccinations by delivery model is not currently available in the format requested.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 22 September 2021 to Questions 49948 on Local Government: Contracts and 49947 on Local Government, if the Government will compensate local authorities for the costs of the levies which fall on contractors they employ; and what funding from the levy will be paid to local authorities for (a) the cost of introducing the £86,000 cap, (b) the proposed floor as described in the Health and Social Care Plan, (c) improving social care provision and (d) any other reforms as a result of the Health and Social Care Plan.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We have announced that we will be investing an additional £5.4 billion across three years in social care. The announcement includes funding that will be made available to all local authorities to cover the costs of implementing our reforms, including the cap, the increased capital limit and moving towards paying a fair rate of care and the associated implementation costs. The Government intends to compensate departments and other public sector employers in England at the forthcoming Spending Review for the increased cost of the Levy and provide Barnett consequentials on this funding to the devolved administrations.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timetable is for implementing a resolution for people whose covid-19 vaccination was administered in Scotland but are resident in England and their vaccination status is not recorded in the England NHS App.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Live data flows have been set up by NHS Digital between England and Scotland which update both general practitioner (GP) records and NHS COVID Pass status. Those vaccinated in Scotland, but registered with a GP in England, can access the certification services provided in England and vice versa.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of music-based interventions on people living with dementia; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has commissioned research on living well with dementia from the National Institute for Health Research, which includes the methods and effectiveness of music therapy. NHS England and NHS Improvement have published guidance for social prescribing link workers to expand music prescriptions, which is available at the following link:
We will be setting out our strategy on dementia for England for future years in due course.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will include in the National Dementia Strategy explicit recognition of the benefits of music-based interventions in the care of people living with dementia.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has commissioned research on living well with dementia from the National Institute for Health Research, which includes the methods and effectiveness of music therapy. NHS England and NHS Improvement have published guidance for social prescribing link workers to expand music prescriptions, which is available at the following link:
We will be setting out our strategy on dementia for England for future years in due course.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether people who are double-vaccinated who are alerted by the NHS Covid App on the 15 August 2021 will have to isolate for 10 days.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Fully vaccinated individuals who are alerted by the NHS COVID-19 App on 15 August that they are a contact of a confirmed case can leave isolation from 16 August. The App will provide updated advice for those identified as contacts from 16 August. If an App user is self-isolating because they have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19, they should complete their self-isolation period.