Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with the Department for Transport on increasing the number of air freight transport routes in operation to minimise delays to the import of medical supplies.
Answered by Edward Argar
The Government has announced a range of measures to assist industry and companies are able to draw on this unprecedented package of economic measures. These measures have been designed to ensure that companies of any size, including airports, airlines and the wider supply chain, receive the help they need to get through this difficult time.
The Government recognises that air freight plays an important role in supply chains and the importance that essential goods can continue to be brought into and out of the United Kingdom without disruption. COVID-19 presents unique risks to the movement of goods.
Because of this, the Department for Transport is working with different sectors to help ensure that essential goods can continue to be transported into the UK. This includes working closely with the aviation sector to support it to ensure there is sufficient capacity to protect global travel routes, continue freight and maintain vital connectivity.
The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with the Department for Transport, other Government Departments and industry to feed into this ongoing work as well as monitor the impact of COVID-19 on medical supply chains and manage identified risks. For example, the Department of Health and Social Care has mobilised an Express Freight Service to support the continuity of supply of medicines and medical products and ensure the continued prioritisation of critical products.
This is complemented by the current work of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority. The Civil Aviation Authority oversees and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the United Kingdom and is engaging airlines and airports to provide flexibility within the regulatory framework to help manage and mitigate COVID-19 impacts where appropriate. The Competition and Markets Authority, which has launched a COVID-19 pandemic taskforce to identify harmful pricing practices is advising the Government on the means of ensuring markets operate as well as possible.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government is working with air freight companies to prioritise the supply of medical equipment for the treatment of covid-19 patients at an appropriate cost.
Answered by Edward Argar
The Government has announced a range of measures to assist industry and companies are able to draw on this unprecedented package of economic measures. These measures have been designed to ensure that companies of any size, including airports, airlines and the wider supply chain, receive the help they need to get through this difficult time.
The Government recognises that air freight plays an important role in supply chains and the importance that essential goods can continue to be brought into and out of the United Kingdom without disruption. COVID-19 presents unique risks to the movement of goods.
Because of this, the Department for Transport is working with different sectors to help ensure that essential goods can continue to be transported into the UK. This includes working closely with the aviation sector to support it to ensure there is sufficient capacity to protect global travel routes, continue freight and maintain vital connectivity.
The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with the Department for Transport, other Government Departments and industry to feed into this ongoing work as well as monitor the impact of COVID-19 on medical supply chains and manage identified risks. For example, the Department of Health and Social Care has mobilised an Express Freight Service to support the continuity of supply of medicines and medical products and ensure the continued prioritisation of critical products.
This is complemented by the current work of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority. The Civil Aviation Authority oversees and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the United Kingdom and is engaging airlines and airports to provide flexibility within the regulatory framework to help manage and mitigate COVID-19 impacts where appropriate. The Competition and Markets Authority, which has launched a COVID-19 pandemic taskforce to identify harmful pricing practices is advising the Government on the means of ensuring markets operate as well as possible.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implication for his policies of the petition presented to the Prime Minister in January 2020 by the International Appeal to stop 5G on Earth and in Space.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Department of Health and Social Care through Public Health England (PHE), provides advice on 5G safety. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport leads on 5G policies. The overall exposure to radio waves from the introduction of 5G is expected to remain low relative to international guidelines and there should be no consequences for public health. PHE continues to review the evidence to support their advice; which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phone-base-stations-radio-waves-and-health
Recent Ofcom measured emission levels from 5G-enabled mobile phone base stations remain at small fractions of the guideline level. Ofcom are consulting on a proposed legal requirement for compliance with the international guidelines for public exposure.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that public health policy on the effects of the 5G network is based on up-to-date information; and what plans he has to review the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection on exposure to visible and infrared radiation.
Answered by Jo Churchill
Public Health England (PHE) advises the Department on all aspects of public health, including the effects of the 5G network.
PHE scientific experts keep up-to-date with the latest published evidence and carry out their own research. PHE’s research is published in the academic literature and available to expert groups performing comprehensive evidence reviews. Links to recent reviews can be found at the following link:
A revision of the current International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines on exposure to visible and infrared radiation is underway. PHE will consider the new guidelines when published and provide relevant advice.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that parents and carers are provided with accurate information on the benefits and risks of the MMR vaccine.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The National Health Service website has a dedicated page on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which can be found at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/
In addition, Public Health England provides information on the benefits and risks of the MMR vaccine to the public using NHS branded leaflets, some of which are available in multiple languages. The leaflets address common questions about the MMR vaccine. In addition to parents and carers this information is designed for use by schools, healthcare centres, accident and emergency departments, hospital wards, walk-in centres and general practices.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has published on distinguishing between rashes caused by the measles vaccine and those arising from the wild strain of measles.
Answered by Jo Churchill
While post vaccine rash and fever is generally mild, distinguishing from wild-type measles is not based on clinical examination, rather it is based on a combination of laboratory analysis, information on the timing of vaccine and epidemiological information. The national measles guidelines describe the management and investigation of suspected cases of measles, and is available to view at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-measles-guidelines
Statistics on confirmed measles cases are reported by vaccination status and are available at the following link:
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that statistics on the infection rate for measles do not include people who have received the live measles vaccine and contracted a measles-like rash and fever.
Answered by Jo Churchill
While post vaccine rash and fever is generally mild, distinguishing from wild-type measles is not based on clinical examination, rather it is based on a combination of laboratory analysis, information on the timing of vaccine and epidemiological information. The national measles guidelines describe the management and investigation of suspected cases of measles, and is available to view at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-measles-guidelines
Statistics on confirmed measles cases are reported by vaccination status and are available at the following link:
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) body inclusion encephalitis and (b) other adverse events experienced after a measles vaccine are identified in a timely way by healthcare professionals.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The safety of all the United Kingdom’s vaccination programmes is of paramount importance. Any serious side effects are extremely rare, and the large majority of side effects are mild and transient, such as sore arms, headaches and tiredness. We would recommend that all eligible children are vaccinated, as any potential risk of side effects is far outweighed by the benefits of vaccination.
Healthcare professionals have access to a range of materials, such as ‘Immunisation against infectious disease: the green book’ and Patient Group Directions to support their decision-making in the case of any suspected adverse effects.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) operates the ‘Yellow Card Scheme’, which is vital in helping the MHRA monitor the safety of all healthcare products in the UK. This system allows for reporting of any potential adverse events for all medicines, including vaccines, with guidance for healthcare professionals, patients and the public on how to use the scheme.
In addition, Public Health England (PHE) offers diagnostic services for suspected cases of encephalitis, which is a notifiable condition. Under statutory duty, cases must be reported by healthcare professionals to PHE’s local Health Protection Teams. This can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/notifications-of-infectious-diseases-noids
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to maintain and improve pharmacovigilance in relation to the MMR vaccine.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
As with all vaccines and medicines, the safety of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine remains under continual review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA uses all available sources of evidence in pharmacovigilance, including regular review of suspected adverse reactions submitted through the Yellow Card Scheme, data from clinical and epidemiological studies, the medical literature and information from pharmaceutical companies and other worldwide regulatory authorities. The MHRA’s processes and data analysis systems are regularly evaluated to ensure optimal performance in monitoring the safety of vaccines and medicines.
The balance of benefits and risks of MMR vaccine remains overwhelmingly favourable.
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure (a) transparency and (b) accountability in the process of manufacturing the MMR vaccine.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Two Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines are licensed for use in the United Kingdom: M-M-RVaxPro and Priorix. Both vaccines are on the National Health Service’s routine immunisation schedule. The quality, safety and efficacy of both M-M-RVaxPro and Priorix have been evaluated before they were given a Marketing Authorisation in Europe, and the Marketing Authorisation Holder for each vaccines is legally required to submit periodic safety update reports to the regulator, which are documents intended to provide an evaluation of the risk-benefit balance of a medicinal product at defined time points after its authorisation. The sites at which the products are manufactured are also required to undergo periodic inspections to ensure that they comply with Good Manufacturing Practices. Each batch of vaccines is tested by an official medicines control laboratory (OMCL). OMCL testing is independent of and in addition to the manufacturer’s testing. These procedures ensure that the MMR vaccines available in the UK are safe and efficacious and that the manufacturers/Marketing Authorisation holders are held accountable for their products.
A European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) for M-M-RVaxPro is available at the following link:
Priorix was approved before public assessment reports were a requirement. The EPAR for M-M-RVaxPro contains a general summary of the manufacturing information that was provided during the assessment process; however, the specific details of the manufacturing process are confidential.