Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the total number of people in the UK who (a) are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed and (b) were formerly identified as clinically extremely vulnerable in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Those whose immune systems mean they continue to be at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 may be eligible for therapies in the community, including antivirals and monoclonal antibodies, which can reduce the risk of becoming hospitalised. In England, more than 1.3 million people are eligible for monoclonal antibody treatment and antivirals.
The national shielding support programme closed at the end of September 2021. Data held by NHS Digital showed that 3,694,273 individuals were registered for care in England and previously considered as clinically extremely vulnerable or at ‘high risk’ of complications from COVID-19.
The information requested elsewhere in the United Kingdom is not held, as it is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing financial support for severely immunocompromised people who need to continue shielding and cannot safely return to the workplace.
Answered by Maggie Throup
There have been no specific discussions. The national shielding programme closed on the 15 September 2021. On 4 April 2022, updated guidance was issued for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. The guidance is available at the following link:
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing financial support for severely immunocompromised people who need to continue shielding and are unable to return safely to the workplace.
Answered by Maggie Throup
There have been no specific discussions. The national shielding programme closed on the 15 September 2021. On 4 April 2022, updated guidance was issued for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. The guidance is available at the following link:
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 18 February 2022 from the hon. Member for West Lancashire, reference ZA58962 regarding access to dental treatment.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We replied to the hon. Member on 22 April 2022.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to issue guidance to the public on the steps they should take to help protect people who are at high risk of severe illness from covid-19, including wearing face masks in essential service settings and crowded areas, keeping spaces ventilated and self-isolating when infected.
Answered by Maggie Throup
On 23 February 2022, the Government published ‘COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19’, which offers advice on safer behaviours to reduce the risk of infection. This includes advice on the wearing of face coverings in crowded and enclosed areas, letting fresh air in if meeting indoors and staying at home and avoiding contact with other people on testing positive for COVID-19. The guidance is available at the following link:
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
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 potential merits of launching a public awareness campaign on the ongoing risk of covid-19 for severely immunocompromised people after 1 April 2022; and if he will provide details of the steps people can take to ensure that severely immunocompromised people continue to be protected from that disease.
Answered by Maggie Throup
No specific assessment has been made. However, on 25 February 2022, updated public health advice was issued for those who were previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable, which is available at the following link:
On 4 April, updated guidance was published for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness if they become infected with COVID-19, which is available at the following link:
‘COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19’, published in February, offers advice on safer behaviours to reduce the risk of infection, which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date the UKHSA plans to publish public health guidance for employers in respect of the actions that employers may take to reduce the spread of covid-19 and other respiratory infections in the workplace.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The UK Health Security Agency published ‘Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace’ on 1 April 2022. This provides information for employers and workplace managers, replacing guidance on working safely with COVID-19 and is available at the following link:
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether specific guidance will be mailed directly to people who are severely immunocompromised on how to manage their risk from covid-19 beyond 1 April 2022.
Answered by Maggie Throup
On 4 April 2022, updated guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness if they become infected with COVID-19 was published at the following link:
Immunocompromised individuals who are eligible to receive COVID-19 treatments will receive a letter from NHS England offering advice should they become symptomatic, which is available at the following link:
The letter also includes information on accessing free lateral flow device tests and should they test positive, how to contact a Covid Medicines Delivery Unit in and out of general practitioner surgery hours.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has ensured sufficient surge capacity in the supply of (a) existing and (b) upcoming covid-19 treatments in the event of future waves and variants of that disease.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Government has procured 4.98 million courses of oral antivirals, including 2.75 million courses of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, co-packaged as Paxlovid, 2.23 million courses of molnupiravir and 100,008 courses of the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab. The National Health Service also has access to remdesivir, tocilizumab, sarilumab and dexamethasone. Procured volumes are based on clinical advice, assessment of patient cohort sizes and modelled demand in the event a future wave or emerging variant of concern. Stock levels are regularly monitored to ensure sufficient volumes are available to meet current and projected demand, including sufficient surge capacity.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 24 February 2022 from the hon. Member for West Lancashire regarding dementia research funding, reference ZA59020.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We replied to the hon. Member on 22 April 2022.