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Boris Johnson’s spokesman has also faced questions after Prof Neil Ferguson, who spurred the UK’s decision to go into lockdown last March, earlier warned that a “significant fraction” of European cases were likely to be of the South African variant, which it is feared the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could be less effective against.
Asked about Ferguson’s remarks, the spokesman said:
What I would say in relation to those specific comments, we already have strong measures in place at the border as you will be aware. It is currently illegal to go on holiday and anyone arriving in England has to self-isolate, take two mandatory PCR tests on day two and day eight of their 10-day isolation period, and have a negative test before travel as well.
Modelling is showing that a combination of specific policy options such as pre-departure testing and isolation are effective measures for mitigating the public health risk.
Downing Street has said the UK government is in “constant contact” with vaccine suppliers following a delay of a shipment from India.
Reports (see 9.32am) have suggested that ministers are in secret talks with India in a bid to release the doses to avoid a supply drop next month.
I would say we are in constant contact with all manufacturers to understand and address potential variations in supply.
I would reiterate the point about the words from the prime minister where he was very clear that the Indian government hasn’t stopped any export of the vaccine and any delay …is very frequent in vaccine rollout programmes.
