Vaccines minister Maggie Throup defended the rollout of booster jabs of which four million have been administered so far. Getty images.
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The government “remains on Plan A” and is not considering enacting a Plan B, the vaccines minister has told MPs.
Vaccines minister Maggie Throup defended the slow roll out of COVID booster jabs, which is the centrepiece of the government’s current strategy.
Downing Street has denied reports ministers were creating a Plan C which would ban household mixing.
A spokesperson said any Plan B will only be activated if the NHS was under “significant pressure” this winter.
It follows warnings from the Health Secretary that cases could hit 100,000 per day this winter if public behaviour does not change.
Sajid Javid made the comments in a press conference last night, a move that was criticised by House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Javid spoke to the media before addressing MPs in Parliament.
Daily coronavirus cases have increased by 17% since last week and are now are their highest level since July.
Hesitant public or slow rollout?
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt questioned why people could not receive booster jabs less than six months after receiving their second dose.
He said the UK’s high case rate compared to mainland Europe was due to reduced “vaccine immunity”, saying the average number of vaccines administered daily was half what it was in spring.
Ms Throup said the timing followed the advice of the government’s vaccine advice committee.
Conservative MP Mark Harper said he did had not seen “any evidence” that the public were not coming forward for booster jabs, which he said Mr Javid implied yesterday.
Over four million booster jabs have been administered, with around two in five people who are eligible coming forward.
‘Embarrassing situation’ – Hoyle
Sir Lindsay Hoyle opened the urgent question with criticism of Mr Javid’s press conference last night, saying he should have spoken in the House of Commons first.
The Speaker has previously called on ministers to show “respect” to MPs by addressing them first. Source: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
He said in future he wanted to avoid the “embarrassing situation where [ministers] think it is more appropriate to brief the media rather than this House”.
Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg defended the press conference, saying it was not a “major policy announcement”.
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HeadlineGovernment will see out current Covid strategy before enacting Plan B, says vaccines minister
Short HeadlineNo Covid Plan B yet - vaccines minister
StandfirstMaggie Throup defended booster vaccine programme to MPs after Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle criticises government press conference.
The government “remains on Plan A” and is not considering enacting a Plan B, the vaccines minister has told MPs.
Vaccines minister Maggie Throup defended the slow roll out of COVID booster jabs, which is the centrepiece of the government’s current strategy.
Downing Street has denied reports ministers were creating a Plan C which would ban household mixing.
A spokesperson said any Plan B will only be activated if the NHS was under “significant pressure” this winter.
It follows warnings from the Health Secretary that cases could hit 100,000 per day this winter if public behaviour does not change.
Sajid Javid made the comments in a press conference last night, a move that was criticised by House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Javid spoke to the media before addressing MPs in Parliament.
Daily coronavirus cases have increased by 17% since last week and are now are their highest level since July.
Hesitant public or slow rollout?
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt questioned why people could not receive booster jabs less than six months after receiving their second dose.
He said the UK’s high case rate compared to mainland Europe was due to reduced “vaccine immunity”, saying the average number of vaccines administered daily was half what it was in spring.
Ms Throup said the timing followed the advice of the government’s vaccine advice committee.
Conservative MP Mark Harper said he did had not seen “any evidence” that the public were not coming forward for booster jabs, which he said Mr Javid implied yesterday.
Over four million booster jabs have been administered, with around two in five people who are eligible coming forward.
‘Embarrassing situation’ – Hoyle
Sir Lindsay Hoyle opened the urgent question with criticism of Mr Javid’s press conference last night, saying he should have spoken in the House of Commons first.
The Speaker has previously called on ministers to show “respect” to MPs by addressing them first. Source: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
He said in future he wanted to avoid the “embarrassing situation where [ministers] think it is more appropriate to brief the media rather than this House”.
Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg defended the press conference, saying it was not a “major policy announcement”.
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