UK Inquiry Tracker

COVID-19: Planning for the vaccine (part 1)

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 17 Dec 2020 Closed: 19 Apr 2021 Parliament page

Since the first cases of COVID-19 in the UK in January 2020, the impact on society and the economy has been significant. Government’s overall objective since May has been “to return to life as close to normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and fairly as … Read more Since the first cases of COVID-19 in the UK in January 2020, the impact on society and the economy has been significant. Government’s overall objective since May has been “to return to life as close to normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and fairly as possible”. A vaccination programme plays a central role in achieving this objective. Extremely high global demand, coupled with the scarcity of vaccine resources, has put added pressure on government to make fast-paced decisions to secure access to potential vaccines, and to quickly build the capacity to manufacture and deploy them. On 2 December 2020, the first vaccine for use in the UK was approved by the regulator and deployment began on 8 December. This first inquiry on the development and roll out of a Covid-19 vaccine covers the period from April to 8 December 2020 and examines government’s approach and progress in securing potential vaccines and determining how they will be deployed to the public. The UK government has worked quickly to secure potential COVID-19 vaccines, successfully signing deals for five vaccines providing up to 267 million doses at an expected cost of £2.9 billion. The total cost to the taxpayer of government’s efforts to purchase and deploy vaccines is uncertain. The current estimate is up to £11.7 billion which includes the costs of purchasing and manufacturing vaccines for the UK, deploying them in England and investing in global efforts to purchase vaccines. Many pharmaceutical companies requested immunity in the event of liabilities or legal action relating to their vaccines, meaning the taxpayer may have to pay the costs of claims against them. In four out of the five contracts agreed so far, no cap has been applied to the amount that government could pay in the event of a successful claim against the pharmaceutical companies. NHSE&I is planning a vaccination programme with high levels of uncertainty because information about the COVID-19 vaccines is constantly changing. Each potential vaccine requires different plans for rolling it out to the public because each has different characteristics. These include the temperature it should be stored at, its shelf-life once open, and how it should be prepared before it is administered. In September 2020 NHSE&I calculated that if every adult in England needed to be vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, its vaccination workload would increase by 740%. NHSE&I calculated that it may need up to 46,000 staff consisting of 26,000 vaccinators and 20,000 administrative staff to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination programme based on a 75% take-up rate. As at 8 December 2020, NHSE&I’s planning assumption is that it could vaccinate up to 25 million people with two doses throughout 2021. The Committee will question senior officials at the Department for Business, the Department for Health and Social Care, the NHS including the Vaccine Taskforce, and Public Health England. If you have evidence on this first stage of the UK’s vaccination programme – sourcing and preparing the first Covid19 vaccine - please submit it here by 6pm on Tuesday 5 January 2021 Show less

7 Recommendations

24 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

9 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 12 events

3 Sep
2021

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-third report from Session 2019-21

14 May
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Response to the Committee…

20 Apr
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re The panning for a Vaccine (Part 1)…

16 Apr
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from letter from Sir Chris Wormald KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department for Health and Social Care, and Sarah Munby, Permane…

16 Apr
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Response to the Committee…

16 Mar
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from NHS Chief Executive, Sir Simon Stevens, re Follow up to the Public Accounts Committee Oral Evidence Session on Covid- …

8 Mar
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Planning for a vaccine Par…

25 Feb
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re 11 Jan hearing on Covid 19 vaccine…

12 Feb
2021

Report published

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Planning for a vaccine Part 1

1 Feb
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Michael Brodie, Interim Chief Executive, Public Health England, re COVID-19: Planning for a vaccine (part 1), dated 25 …

13 Jan
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Sir Chris Wormald, Perman…

11 Jan
2021

Oral evidence

COVID-19: Planning for a vaccine (part 1)

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

11 Jan 2021

View on parliament.uk

COVID-19: Planning for a vaccine (part 1)

Emily Lawson · NHS England and NHS Improvement Kate Bingham · UK Vaccine Taskforce Michael Brodie · NHS Business Service Authority Nick Elliott · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Sir Chris Wormald · Department of Health and Social Care Sir Simon Stevens · NHS England and NHS Improvement

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Planning for a vaccine Part 1	HC 930	12 Feb 2021	31	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

9 results

5 Recommendation Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

There is a risk that NHSE&I and DHSC’s plans for the vaccine programme will not...

There is a risk that NHSE&I and DHSC’s plans for the vaccine programme will not meet public expectations. NHSE&I recognises that its goal to vaccinate the first four priority groups by 15 February is a huge task which it appears … Read more There is a risk that NHSE&I and DHSC’s plans for the vaccine programme will not meet public expectations. NHSE&I recognises that its goal to vaccinate the first four priority groups by 15 February is a huge task which it appears to be on track to deliver. As no-one can be forced to have the vaccination, NHSE&I will determine the programme’s success based on the number of people offered a vaccine rather than the number of people who are vaccinated. The daily vaccination totals published by government, however, are based on the number of vaccines administered, not offers made. We are concerned that using these could create confusion among the public about progress with the vaccine programme. NHSE&I has lengthened the time between individuals’ first and second doses of the vaccine from 3 to 12 weeks. It asserts that this delay is not linked to the introduction of new lockdown measures, but “basic maths” that it is better to have more people with single dose protection than a smaller number with double dose protection. NHSE&I currently expects around 25% of people will not take-up the offer of a vaccination but is hopeful that actual take-up rates will be higher. We are nonetheless concerned about how vaccines will be deployed across parts of the country with different age demographics, local need and people with vulnerabilities. NHSE&I recognises that there is a trade-off between equity of access and the speed of deployment and that it cannot allow one part of the country to race ahead of another. Recommendation: NHSE&I and DHSC need to immediately set out in detail what they are planning to achieve so the public has a better understanding of what the daily progress reports mean in practice. It should clearly set out: the definition of ‘vaccinated’ and ‘offered a vaccination’; and expected take up rates across both doses and across different cohorts, for example by age and ethnicity. Progress should also be reported at local, regional, devolved and UK levels in a consi Show less

Government Response

The government agrees with the recommendation, stating it has already implemented it by publishing the Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Plan and the COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Plan, and provides clear daily and weekly data, including breakdowns by age, region, ethnicity, and cohort.

HM Treasury

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6 Recommendation Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

Public confidence in the vaccine programme is crucial to its success yet some members of...

Public confidence in the vaccine programme is crucial to its success yet some members of the public and health professionals were confused by the messaging about when and how people can access a vaccine. The number of people who choose … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees with the recommendation and states it has already implemented it, detailing ongoing efforts in clear public communication, provision of information on NHS.UK and GOV.UK, sharing FAQs with partners, and establishing cross-government units to counter misinformation.

HM Treasury

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8 Conclusion Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

The Chair of the Taskforce took up the unpaid post in May 2020.

The Chair of the Taskforce took up the unpaid post in May 2020. The Chair was appointed by, and reported directly to, the Prime Minister until the term expired at the end of 2020.17 We asked the former Chair about … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees with the committee's observations, stating BEIS has considered its decision-making and appointments processes, implemented improvements for robust decision-making, and will consider replicating these improvements and sharing lessons learned with other departments.

HM Treasury

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26 Conclusion Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

In 2019–20 the long-established seasonal flu vaccination programme had a take-up rate of 72% among...

In 2019–20 the long-established seasonal flu vaccination programme had a take-up rate of 72% among those aged 65 years and older, and up to 45% for those aged 64 years or younger. NHSE&I explained that it was using the flu … Read more

Government Response

The government accepts the conclusion, stating that Public Health England, in partnership with NHS England and Improvement, continues to develop insights into vaccine hesitancy using academic experts, behavioural scientists, regular polling, and qualitative research.

HM Treasury

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27 Conclusion Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

PHE recognised that people trust their local GP, local faith groups and community groups so...

PHE recognised that people trust their local GP, local faith groups and community groups so public health organisations and local government will have an important role to play to encourage people to take-up the vaccine. Flu vaccination programmes have also … Read more

Government Response

The government accepts the importance of convenience and trusted local sources for vaccine uptake and is working to provide choices for vaccination locations (GP practices, pharmacies, mass centres) and culturally sensitive messaging through local authorities and community leaders.

HM Treasury

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28 Conclusion Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

The number of people who choose to have the vaccine will ultimately be determined by...

The number of people who choose to have the vaccine will ultimately be determined by public trust in the vaccines.78 Our previous reports have shown the importance of clear and consistent communication and that a lack of information during the … Read more

Government Response

The government accepts the importance of public trust and clear communication, detailing its ongoing efforts to provide public information via NHS.UK and GOV.UK, sustained communications campaigns informed by polling, and cross-government work to counter myths and misinformation.

HM Treasury

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29 Conclusion Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

Research commissioned by PHE showed that about two-thirds of the population were very likely to...

Research commissioned by PHE showed that about two-thirds of the population were very likely to take-up the vaccine, around 10% were unlikely, and the rest were uncertain. For those who were uncertain or unlikely to have the vaccine, efficacy and … Read more

Government Response

The government accepts the importance of clear communication and outlines ongoing efforts, including detailed public information on NHS.UK and GOV.UK, proactive communications campaigns based on polling, sharing information with community leaders, and cross-government work to counter misinformation.

HM Treasury

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30 Recommendation Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

We were concerned by reports of confusion among health professionals and the public about what...

We were concerned by reports of confusion among health professionals and the public about what to expect from the vaccine programme and when. We asked NHSE&I how it was ensuring clear lines of communication so that people had access to … Read more

Government Response

The government accepts the need for clear communication, including FAQs, and details its ongoing efforts to provide public information via NHS.UK and GOV.UK, proactive communications campaigns, and the sharing of FAQs with partners and community leaders.

HM Treasury

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31 Conclusion Accepted

Forty-Third Report - COVID-19: Pla…

NHSE&I explained that it would give people “more than one channel and more than one...

NHSE&I explained that it would give people “more than one channel and more than one chance” to come forward for a vaccine. It expected to have to go back to people who did not come forward after being contacted to … Read more

Government Response

The government states it has worked closely with various bodies on clear public communication regarding vaccine development and rollout, maintaining proactive information campaigns to inform the public, address vaccine hesitancy, and tackle misinformation to prevent scams.

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 7 classified

Accepted 9

Accepted in Part 1

Acknowledged 1

Not Addressed 20

Total 7 recs + 24 conclusions

Correspondence 9 letters

14 May 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Response to the Committee re: Planning for a vaccine Part 1 PAC Report, dated 30 April 2021

Parliament page

20 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re The panning for a Vaccine (Part 1) PAC hearing, dated 12 April 2021

Parliament page

16 Apr 2021 To committee Correspondence from letter from Sir Chris Wormald KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department for Health and Social Care, and Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Panning for a Vaccine Part 1 PAC hearing, dated 7 April 2021

Parliament page

16 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Response to the Committee re: Planning for a vaccine Part 1 PAC Report, dated 31 March 2021

Parliament page

16 Mar 2021 Correspondence from NHS Chief Executive, Sir Simon Stevens, re Follow up to the Public Accounts Committee Oral Evidence Session on Covid- 19 Vaccines, dated 11 February 2021

Parliament page

8 Mar 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, re Planning for a vaccine Part 1 PAC Report, dated 26 February 2021

Parliament page

25 Feb 2021 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re 11 Jan hearing on Covid 19 vaccine planning, dated 18 February 2021

Parliament page

1 Feb 2021 Correspondence from Michael Brodie, Interim Chief Executive, Public Health England, re COVID-19: Planning for a vaccine (part 1), dated 25 January 2021

Parliament page

13 Jan 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re COVID-19 Indemnities, dated 31 December 2020

Parliament page