Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the report RAPID C-19 Oversight Group report: review of Evusheld by the RAPID C-19 Oversight Group, published on 6 October, why (1) SAGE, and (2) the JCVI, were not consulted on the decision on whether to purchase Evusheld.

There are no plans to consult with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation or the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies as these bodies do not have a remit on decisions on new treatments. RAPID C-19 consists of scientific experts, including clinicians, pharmacists, evidence assessors and researchers, who provide independent clinical advice to the Chief Medical Officer for England. RAPID C-19’s expertise is related to the organisations represented, which include the main healthcare agencies involved in decisions on research, regulation, and introducing new treatments into the National Health Service.

NHS England created a national expert working group (EWG) to support development of a national clinical policy, with a focus on clinical effectiveness and eligibility criteria. The EWG is chaired by a senior NHS representative and the membership includes national experts, frontline clinicians and involves officials from the devolved administrations. The EWG has also considered emerging prophylactic agents and its members have specific expertise in immunology and virology. RAPID C-19 was also advised by the independent COVID-19 Prophylaxis Oversight Group, which is chaired by an expert on infectious diseases and clinical trials.