Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to recent MS register survey data indicating that three quarters of people said they would benefit from more advice that the covid-19 vaccine is safe, whether he has had discussions with relevant professionals on the safety of that vaccine for people with multiple sclerosis.

The Government is advised on the safety and efficacy of vaccines for the population as a whole and for those with a range of conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), by independent scientists, including those from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Commission on Human Medicines Expert Advisory Group.

The Department and its partners also work closely with stakeholders from the scientific community and provide regular updates to all our stakeholders on the COVID-19 vaccine programme, to support them with their own communications about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. The Department chairs a regular meeting with United Kingdom patient support charities to discuss COVID-19 vaccine programme, which has previously been attended by Nick Moberly, Chief Executive of the MS Society. The agenda for these meetings has includes vaccine efficacy and safety for the range of patient groups represented.