Every parliamentary written question tabled by Christopher Chope this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 61–76 of 76 · Department of Health and Social Care
When the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine Vaxrevia ended in the UK; and for what reason that vaccine is no longer available.
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was first deployed in England in January 2021. Having reached the end of the supply agreement with the Government, the vaccine has not been used in the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 vaccination programme since 2022. Since Sept...
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9410 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, whether any line extensions to covid-19 vaccinations have been authorised to tackle reported adverse side eff
No modifications or line extensions to the original vaccines have been introduced to reduce side effects.
If he will meet with Professor Adam Finn to discuss the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (a) 60% threshold, (b) levels of payments in the context of levels of inflation and (c) the potential impact of
Whilst there are currently no plans to meet with Professor Adam Finn, the Government continues to listen carefully to the concerns raised about the Vaccine Damages Payment Scheme. As part of this consideration, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State fo...
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9409 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, if he will launch a consultation with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of bringing forward leg
It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on individual claims or cases whilst there is ongoing litigation. It is right that such matters follow the appropriate legal process, which can take time. There are, however, currently no plans to ...
If he will take steps to provide (a) healthcare and (b) financial support to people whose applications to the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme were rejected on the basis that they do not have a sever
We expect that individuals whose claims to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) have been rejected on the basis that they do not meet the 60% disability threshold would receive the same level of treatment and care from the National Health Service as t...
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 8098 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, whether any line extensions to Covid-19 vaccinations have been authorised to tackle reported adverse side eff
The most common side effects observed with COVID-19 vaccines are pain and swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headaches, muscle and joint pain, chills, fever, and diarrhoea. These side effects are similar to those seen with other vaccines and are u...
For what reason the MHRA uses observed analyses instead of expected analyses in assessing the safety of Covid-19 vaccines.
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency uses both observed and expected analysis in their assessment of safety signals for COVID-19 vaccines. Data obtained from the spontaneous Yellow Card reporting system, through which patients, public an...
What modifications have been made to existing Covid-19 vaccine products; for what reasons were those modifications made; and when those modifications were approved by the Medicines and Healthcare P
The Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency may authorise a line extension, which is a new product authorisation linked to the original marketing authorisation. Various versions of the COVID-19 vaccines have been approved as line extensions to the...
For what reason the respiratory syncytial virus vaccination programme does not include people who are 80 or older.
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for adults turning 75 years old began on 1 September 2024 in England, alongside a one-off catch-up programme to rapidly vaccinate all those already aged 75 to 79 years old. Older adults will rema...
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of providing annual ECGs to young people on the number of victims of sudden cardiac death; and if he will hold discussions with his Italian cou
The UK National Screening Committee reviewed screening young people for sudden cardiac death in 2019. They found there was insufficient evidence to support the introduction of whole population screening in the United Kingdom. However, this issue is kept u...
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of fee setting and de-recognition procedures on the (a) cost and (b) availability of private medical insurance.
Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The respective capabilities of insurers to assess risk is a key element on which they compete, and the Government does not intend to intervene in these commercial decisions, as this could damage competition in the market. This competition is important and should lead to better products and lower prices for consumers overall.Price is an important factor on which insurers compete to win customers, and that competition should push insurers to continuously improve their assessment of risks in order to lower prices and create better products for consumers. The Government intervening in insurance markets could damage that competition and, therefore, we do not generally intervene in the commercial pricing decisions of insurers.
How much grant funding each Integrated Care Board in England is providing for hospice funding for (a) children's and (b) other hospices over the 2024-25 financial year.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. The hospice sector is an important part of the range of providers and services needed.2023/24 was the final year of the Children’s Hospice Grant, which commenced in 2007. In 2024/25, however, NHS England provided an additional £25 million of funding for children and young people’s hospices, maintaining the level of grant funding from 2023/24. This funding was distributed, for the first time, via ICBs, in line with National Health Service devolution. The Department does not hold data on how much funding each ICB has provided to children’s hospices and other hospices over 2024/25.To support ICBs in their duty to commission palliative and end of life care services, NHS England has published statutory guidance, as well as service specifications for adults, and children and young people, all of which are available, respectively, at the following three links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/palliative-and-end-of-life-care-statutory-guidance-for-integrated-care-boards-icbs/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specifications-for-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-adults/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specifications-for-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-children-and-young-people-cyp/
What assessment he has made of the performance of Integrated Care Boards in England in fulfilling their duty to commission palliative and end of life care.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. The hospice sector is an important part of the range of providers and services needed.2023/24 was the final year of the Children’s Hospice Grant, which commenced in 2007. In 2024/25, however, NHS England provided an additional £25 million of funding for children and young people’s hospices, maintaining the level of grant funding from 2023/24. This funding was distributed, for the first time, via ICBs, in line with National Health Service devolution. The Department does not hold data on how much funding each ICB has provided to children’s hospices and other hospices over 2024/25.To support ICBs in their duty to commission palliative and end of life care services, NHS England has published statutory guidance, as well as service specifications for adults, and children and young people, all of which are available, respectively, at the following three links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/palliative-and-end-of-life-care-statutory-guidance-for-integrated-care-boards-icbs/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specifications-for-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-adults/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specifications-for-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-children-and-young-people-cyp/
With reference to the Prime Minister's Written Statement of 18 July 2024 on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 Report, HCWS11, whether the Prime Minister's personal commitment to each and every family who lost loved ones includes those who lost loved ones as a result of a Covid-19 vaccine.
In the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement to Parliament, he said that ensuring that the United Kingdom is prepared for a future pandemic is a “top priority” for his government and that the Government is determined to learn the lessons from this Inquiry.Further to this, on the 19 July, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster made an oral statement in the House of Commons in response to the Module 1 report where he said “this government’s first responsibility is to keep the public safe. We cannot rebuild our national resilience overnight. But we will learn the lessons from this Inquiry – from this Module and every Module that follows”.The issue of Covid-19 vaccines will be discussed in Module 4 of the Covid-19 Inquiry, where the hearings are planned to start from 14 January 2025 to 30 January 2025.
What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential risk of people with partial trisomy experiencing heart complications following an mRNA vaccine; and if his Department will take steps to ensure that the decision of Mr Justice Hayden in the Court of Protection is communicated to all health service professionals.
There has been no formal review of the potential risk of people with partial trisomy experiencing heart complications following an mRNA vaccine, although the safety of vaccines is continually monitored by the independent Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA conducted detailed analysis of all Yellow Card reports of heart inflammation, specifically myocarditis and pericarditis, which occurred following an mRNA vaccine. Details of these analyses were published weekly in the MHRA’s Coronavirus Vaccine - Summary of Yellow Card Reporting, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reportingThese analyses did not identify a specific safety concern in relation to patients with congenital conditions, such as trisomy, who received an mRNA vaccine.In relation to the judgement of the Hon. Mr Justice Hayden, there are currently no plans to communicate the decision from this specific case to all healthcare professionals. As with all vaccines, should any information indicate a possible new safety concern, the system is well placed to rapidly and thoroughly investigate this, with advice for healthcare professionals and patients updated where appropriate.
How many applications were made under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme for redress arising from the administration of covid-19 vaccines as at 1 July 2024; and how many and what proportion of those applications were (a) decided, (b) successful and (c) rejected on the grounds that the 60% disability threshold had not been reached.
As of 1 July 2024, the NHS Business Services Authority had received 14,088 claims to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) relating to COVID-19. Following medical assessment, 6,850 claims, or 48.6% of the total number of claims, had received an initial outcome, with 181 claims, or 1.3%, being successful and 6,062 claims, 45.1%, being unsuccessful. A further 607 claims, or 4.3%, were found invalid, due to being either outside the scope of the VDPS or a duplicate claim. Of the 6,062 unsuccessful claims, 360 claims, or 2.6%, were rejected on the grounds that the 60% disability threshold had not been reached.