Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department is having with relevant stakeholders on expanding vaccine recognition for UK residents vaccinated abroad with a covid-19 vaccine approved for use by the MHRA.

The Department has regular discussions with relevant stakeholders on this issue and a solution is now in place for those vaccinated abroad with a vaccine that is also approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Since 25 November, anyone residing in England and vaccinated with any MHRA-approved vaccine types overseas can get an NHS COVID Pass. As of 9 December, individuals can now book a face-to-face appointment to visit a specific vaccination centre to update their record in the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS). Once vaccinations are verified and recorded in NIMS, they will be displayed in the NHS COVID Pass. Further expansion of this service, to include additional vaccines, is planned in due course.