Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority about plans to ensure that people in Gaza receive vaccinations for COVID-19.

The UK will deliver on its commitment to global equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines through our commitment to the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment (AMC). The UK has supported the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) to be included in the COVAX. Lord Ahmad most recently raised this issue with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki on 10th December and provided assurances that the UK will continue to coordinate closely with the Palestinian Authority to ensure vaccines are rolled out across the OPTs.

The UK is the largest funder to the COVAX AMC with a commitment of up to £548 million. This will contribute to 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 92 developing countries in 2021, and immunisation for up to 500 million people (subject to vaccines successfully securing stringent regulatory approvals).