Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of herd immunity as a way to minimise UK deaths from COVID-19

Herd immunity is not part of the Government’s action plan but is a natural by-product of an epidemic. Our aims are to save lives, protect the most vulnerable, and relieve pressure on the National Health Service.

We have now moved out of the contain phase and into delay, and we have experts working round the clock. Every measure that we have or will introduce will be based on the best scientific evidence.

Our awareness of the likely levels of immunity in the country over the coming months will ensure our planning and response is as accurate and effective as possible.