Covid-19 Update Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Covid-19 Update

Rachael Maskell Excerpts
Wednesday 19th January 2022

(2 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
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Yes. My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is why we gave another £300 million of funding this December.

Rachael Maskell Portrait Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
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Now is not the time for complacency—1,000 people have died over the past week; 438 just yesterday. I am also concerned at complacency about putting everything into the vaccine. I really do encourage everyone to get vaccinated, but according to the Government’s own figures, the depletion rate of the efficacy of the booster vaccine is between 40% and 50% after 10 weeks. So what happens then? What are the next steps, and is it really worth sacking NHS staff for that?

Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
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I totally support what the hon. Lady says about combating apathy. I do think that apathy is our foe now, particularly among people who think that the variant is so mild that they do not need to get vaccinated. As the hon. Member for Ealing North (James Murray) was saying, people need to get their first dose and their second dose, and they need to get their booster.