Coronavirus: Vaccination

(asked on 14th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the evidence base was for the Government's decision to allow health services to delay the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine; and for what reason the Government's policy on that matter differs to the advice of the manufacturer and the World Health Organization.


Answered by
Nadhim Zahawi Portrait
Nadhim Zahawi
This question was answered on 19th March 2021

The United Kingdom’s decision to delay the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine has been taken based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination Immunisation (JCVI), as well as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

After studying the available data, it’s clear both vaccines provide substantial protection within two to three weeks of vaccination from severe COVID-19 disease. The Government is advised on the safety, efficacy and strategy for the vaccines by independent scientists including those from the JCVI and the Commission on Human Medicines Expert Advisory Group. While we are monitoring different countries’ vaccination plans and rollouts, the approach taken in the UK is based on the advice of the world’s leading clinicians and scientists.

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