Covid-19 Vaccine

Thank you for contacting me about Covid-19 vaccines. 
 
I am delighted that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been approved for use in the UK. This really is a momentous occasion and, while there is still some way to go, it provides fresh hope that we can beat this pandemic.  
 
The UK’s independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is highly respected internationally and has followed rigorous procedures to ensure the vaccine meets the high standards needed to be considered both safe and effective. 
 
Any Covid-19 vaccine that is approved must go through all the clinical trials and safety checks required for all licensed medicines. The MHRA follows international standards of safety and is a benchmark organisation globally.  I welcome the fact that the World Health Organisation has commended the work of the MHRA and backed this approach. So far, thousands of people have been given a Covid-19 vaccine and no serious side effects or complications have been reported. 
 
I too have read reports about the development of so-called 'Immunity Passports' which could be used to enable people to safely access certain venues. The Government has stated that the priority at the moment is establishing a safe and effective way to rollout the vaccine to those who need it. While I understand that a range of options are being considered to encourage people to receive the vaccine, the Government does not plan to make the Covid-19 vaccination mandatory. 
 
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.