Maggie Throup: All clinical trial participants can now gain access to a NHS COVID Pass for domestic purposes. Valneva clinical trial sites now have access to upload their trial data and have begun doing so in line with their unblinding schedule. Once complete, all Valneva clinical trialists will be able to access a NHS COVID Pass for international purposes.
Maggie Throup: No specific assessment has been made. There is some evidence that exposure to alcohol marketing can increase the risk that children will start to drink alcohol or, if they already drink, that it can increase the risk that they will consume greater quantities of alcohol. This includes any alcohol advertising that children are exposed to on public transport. There is evidence to show exposure...
Maggie Throup: We have expanded the inbound vaccination policy to recognise vaccinations from over 100 countries and territories. We have removed the pre-departure testing requirement for fully vaccinated passengers travelling from non- ‘red list’ countries and territories. From 24 October, eligible vaccinated passengers arriving from rest of world countries can take a cheaper lateral flow test on or...
Maggie Throup: The Department is currently undertaking a post implementation review of the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations 2016 which will include measures related to emerging products. The Department is aiming to publish its response by the end of the year.
Maggie Throup: Individuals who do not have a National Health Service number or are not registered with a general practitioner (GP) are entitled to free COVID-19 vaccinations. A NHS number is required to access proof of vaccination through the NHS COVID Pass or via NHS.uk. Temporary NHS numbers can be created by the administering centre on receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and the site can assist in...
Maggie Throup: Data from the COV-BOOST trial indicate that booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are generally well tolerated and provide a substantial increase in vaccine-induced immune responses. In particular, mRNA vaccines provide a strong booster effect, regardless of whether the primary course was with the Pfizer/BioNTech or the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has...
Maggie Throup: We expect all departments to comply with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat’s guidance on Article 5.3 and we regularly provide guidance and assistance across Government.
Maggie Throup: We are committed to reducing the harms caused by tobacco and smoking rates amongst adults are currently at 13.9%, the lowest on record. The Department is currently preparing a new Tobacco Control Plan which will deliver our ambition to be smoke-free by 2030.
Maggie Throup: The proposed transaction is primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned although officials will continue to monitor the situation. The United Kingdom is a signatory to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and will continue to uphold our duties in protecting public health policy in accordance with the treaty.
Maggie Throup: The United Kingdom already accepts the EU Digital COVID Certificate as proof of vaccination for international travel.
Maggie Throup: The forthcoming Spending Review will set out funding for health and social care, including for the new HIV Action Plan, for future years.
Maggie Throup: We plan to publish the HIV Action Plan later this year to coincide with World AIDS Day on 1 December which will set out clear actions to achieve the interim target of reaching an 80% reduction in HIV transmissions in England by 2025 and will set out our plans in relation to assessing the need for testing in different settings and delivering testing where it is needed.
Maggie Throup: HIV testing and prevention is funded by local government through the ringfenced Public Health Grant. We have provided £3.324 billion to local authorities in England to fund public health services in 2021/22, including sexual health and HIV services. We have invested in the successful deployment of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in England and the Public Health Grant in 2021/22 includes...
Maggie Throup: Novavax trial participants who are part of a priority group, such as health and social care workers, older people and people with certain medical conditions, are able to receive a booster vaccine on top of their trial doses. Individuals will be offered a booster dose by either their clinical trial team or via the National Health Service.
Maggie Throup: The ‘COVID-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021’, published on 14 September, set out that if the data suggests the National Health Service is likely to come under unsustainable pressure, the Government will implement its prepared ‘Plan B’ for England. This will include measures to control transmission of the virus, such as requiring people to wear face coverings in some settings....
Maggie Throup: We expect that these data streams will be live within the next few weeks.
Maggie Throup: The United Kingdom is fully committed to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and we are clear that all tobacco products are harmful to health. At the Ninth Conference of Parties, the UK will not advocate for a contemporary approach nor a working group on tobacco harm reduction products such as novel tobacco products. However, we will set out our approach to...
Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues. We are committed to ensuring that children and young people are suitably protected from irresponsible promotions, advertising and marketing of alcohol.
Maggie Throup: Discussions on the rate of drug related deaths in Scotland have taken place at two United Kingdom Drugs Ministerial meetings held on 17 September 2020 and 11 October 2021.
Maggie Throup: In March 2021, the Government announced an additional £79 million of funding to expand children’s mental health services in 2021/22. A portion of this funding will be used to accelerate the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges, with the aim of 400 teams being operational, covering an estimated three million children and young people by 2023. We have published...