Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of the use of probiotics in treating COVID-19.

The use of probiotics and prebiotics to treat COVID-19 are not currently our priority in trials. The Government is investing across the board in both basic genetic research and clinical studies to find a sustainable treatment or vaccine against COVID-19. More information can be found in Our plan to rebuild: the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy which is attached.

The Government has been at the forefront of the international response to the virus, co-hosting the Coronavirus Global Response Summit on 4 May, pledging £388 million in aid funding for research into vaccines, tests and treatment including £250 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.