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

Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee HC 930 12 February 2021
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 31 items (7 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 31 of 31 classified)
Accepted 9
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 1
Not Addressed 20
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-third report from Session 2019-21 · published 3 Sep 2021
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Recommendations & Conclusions

20 results
2 Recommendation Not Addressed
Despite BEIS’s confidence, concerns remain over the vaccine supply chain.
Recommendation
Despite BEIS’s confidence, concerns remain over the vaccine supply chain. Under the Government’s ambitious plans, everyone who wants a vaccination should be able to have one by Autumn 2021. This will depend on continuing vaccine supply. Whilst BEIS asserts that … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response does not address the recommendation regarding an assessment of vaccine supply chain risks and a plan to address them.
HM Treasury
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3 Recommendation Not Addressed
BEIS has worked quickly to secure access to vaccines but could have been more transparent...
Recommendation
BEIS has worked quickly to secure access to vaccines but could have been more transparent about how decisions have been made. Transparency is essential to maintain public confidence and ensure taxpayers’ money is being well spent. BEIS has managed significant … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response does not address the recommendation for BEIS to review its investment decisions, appointment processes, and the use of the Taskforce model.
HM Treasury
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4 Recommendation Not Addressed
DHSC, NHSE&I and PHE will continue to face significant challenges in making sure they can...
Recommendation
DHSC, NHSE&I and PHE will continue to face significant challenges in making sure they can get the vaccine to the right people at the right time. Each vaccine will require different plans for deploying because each has different characteristics. Getting … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government's response is a non-sequitur, referring to HM Treasury's breach of capital expenditure rather than providing an assessment of vaccine deployment challenges and risks as requested.
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion Not Addressed
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department), NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I), … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response refers to an unrelated PAC conclusion about BEIS's expenditure, completely failing to address the committee's introductory statement about the basis of its report.
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion Not Addressed
BEIS created a Vaccines Taskforce (the Taskforce) in April 2020 to support the research and...
Conclusion
BEIS created a Vaccines Taskforce (the Taskforce) in April 2020 to support the research and development of potential vaccines, select which vaccines to purchase, secure the UK’s 7 Committee of Public Accounts, CPVID-19: Supply of Ventilators, HC 685, 25 November … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's description of the Vaccines Taskforce's creation and purpose, and does not provide new information or address the committee's implicit query about retaining skills and expertise.
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion Not Addressed
We asked what premium the UK had paid for its access to the vaccines and...
Conclusion
We asked what premium the UK had paid for its access to the vaccines and their development at speed. BEIS asserted that the UK had not paid any premiums for access to the vaccines, as at the time the contracts … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response is a verbatim, truncated repetition of the committee's conclusion, providing no further information on vaccine procurement prices or quantities.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Not Addressed
In response to our questions about whether the UK now had access to enough doses...
Conclusion
In response to our questions about whether the UK now had access to enough doses of vaccine or would need to go back to buy more from other suppliers, the former Chair of the Taskforce told us that the “we … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's observation that the UK has more vaccine doses than likely needed if all work, but does not provide its own specific update or position.
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion Not Addressed
On 11 January 2021, the Secretary of State of Health and Social Care stated that...
Conclusion
On 11 January 2021, the Secretary of State of Health and Social Care stated that “the supply of the vaccine is currently the rate limiting step”.34 NHSE&I recognised that ensuring everyone who wants a vaccination can have one by Autumn … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response is a verbatim, truncated repetition of the committee's conclusion, offering no additional information on vaccine supply timetables.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion Not Addressed
Manufacturing the vaccines is the responsibility of pharmaceutical companies.
Conclusion
Manufacturing the vaccines is the responsibility of pharmaceutical companies. In order to ensure that vaccines can be provided quickly to the UK and reduce the risks to its supply of the vaccine, BEIS calculated that it needed to invest £519 … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response is a verbatim, truncated repetition of the committee's conclusion, providing no further details or updates on vaccine manufacturing capacity.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Not Addressed
Government plans to have offered a first vaccine dose to everyone in the top four...
Conclusion
Government plans to have offered a first vaccine dose to everyone in the top four priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation by 15 February. This includes: all residents in a care home for older adults … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response is a verbatim, truncated repetition of the committee's conclusion, failing to engage with its content regarding vaccine rollout targets.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion Not Addressed
We asked NHSE&I whether the timetable for the roll-out of the vaccine was realistic, and...
Conclusion
We asked NHSE&I whether the timetable for the roll-out of the vaccine was realistic, and how fast it could reach those groups on the priority list. NHSE&I told us that over the first three weeks of the programme, it had … Read more
Government Response Summary
The provided government response is truncated and merely repeats the committee's observations about the vaccine roll-out without addressing them or offering any new information.
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion Not Addressed
NHSE&I is planning its deployment of vaccines in the face of high levels of uncertainty...
Conclusion
NHSE&I is planning its deployment of vaccines in the face of high levels of uncertainty because information about the COVID-19 vaccines is still changing. It needs to keep its plans under review to ensure it can respond to the latest … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response is a verbatim, truncated repetition of the committee's conclusion, offering no specific updates on plans for an annual vaccination programme or response to changing vaccine information.
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion Not Addressed
Decisions about who will be vaccinated were taken by the Secretary of State for Health...
Conclusion
Decisions about who will be vaccinated were taken by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, as is the case with all vaccination programmes, based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.47 The Joint Committee … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response is a verbatim, truncated repetition of the committee's conclusion, providing no new information on vaccine prioritisation decisions or advice.
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion Not Addressed
We asked what progress had been made in identifying who would be prioritised in the...
Conclusion
We asked what progress had been made in identifying who would be prioritised in the next phase of the vaccine programme and whether those in key services, for example education, transport and those working in supermarkets, would be given priority. … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response is a verbatim, truncated repetition of the committee's conclusion, failing to address the content or provide an update on vaccine prioritisation.
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion Not Addressed
Each potential vaccine will require different plans for deploying it to the public because each...
Conclusion
Each potential vaccine will require different plans for deploying it to the public because each vaccine has different characteristics. This includes the temperature vaccines need to be stored at, their shelf-life once open, and any preparatory work needed before they … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's observations about the differing logistical requirements for vaccine deployment based on their characteristics, without adding new information or committing to further action.
HM Treasury
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20 Conclusion Not Addressed
In September 2020, NHSE&I estimated that it could need up to 46,000 additional staff to...
Conclusion
In September 2020, NHSE&I estimated that it could need up to 46,000 additional staff to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination programme, including 26,000 vaccinators and 20,000 administrative staff. It planned to fill these posts through a combination of existing primary care … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's conclusion about the estimated staffing needs for the vaccination program and the successful recruitment efforts, but provides no new information or specific government action.
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion Not Addressed
The NHSE&I concluded that it was not possible to deliver both the COVID-19 and seasonal...
Conclusion
The NHSE&I concluded that it was not possible to deliver both the COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccinations solely through existing arrangements such as GP practices and community pharmacies. In response, it developed three new delivery models to take account of … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's conclusion on NHSE&I's development of new vaccine delivery models and the importance of local oversight, but offers no new information or specific government action.
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion Not Addressed
We were concerned that this approach risked creating a ‘stop-start’ system where the logistics for...
Conclusion
We were concerned that this approach risked creating a ‘stop-start’ system where the logistics for vaccinations people were in place, but would be difficult to get up and running again if the roll-out was paused while other areas caught up. … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's concern about a 'stop-start' vaccination system and NHSE&I's confirmation of considering smooth distribution, but provides no new information or specific government action.
HM Treasury
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23 Conclusion Not Addressed
In its written evidence to us, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics noted that COVID-19 had...
Conclusion
In its written evidence to us, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics noted that COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact on groups who already had unmet health needs, such as poorer and BAME communities, those living in care and those with learning … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's conclusion regarding the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups and PHE's recognition of the issue, but does not provide its own specific response or update.
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion Not Addressed
NHSE&I recognised that its goal of vaccinating the top four priority groups by mid- February...
Conclusion
NHSE&I recognised that its goal of vaccinating the top four priority groups by mid- February was a huge task.67 We noted that it would be essential for Departments to be clear in the language they used to describe progress with … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government response reiterates the committee's observation and concern regarding the clarity of language used to describe vaccine progress, but does not provide its own specific response or planned actions.
HM Treasury
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