No 10 and regulator contradict Hancock's 'because of Brexit' Covid vaccine claim

Both Downing Street and the UK’s medicines regulator have contradicted a claim by Matt Hancock that Brexit helped the UK become the first western country to license a vaccine against coronavirus.

The health secretary claimed on Wednesday morning that “because of Brexit”, the UK had been able to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, rather than wait for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to do so.

The UK is still under the remit of the EMA until the end of the Brexit transition period on 1 January, but EU laws also allow member states to approve medicines for emergency use without EMA authorisation.

At a government briefing about the UK’s decision to become the first country to license the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use, the head of the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA), which made the decision, cited EU rules.

“We have been able to authorise the supply of this vaccine using provisions under European law, which exist until 1 January,” said June Raine, the MHRA’s chief executive.

Asked about the contradiction between these comments and Hancock’s stated view, Boris Johnson’s spokesman pointedly declined to back the health secretary.

“I think the important point is that we are the first country in the world to approve this vaccine, and thanks to the hard work of the MHRA,” he said, when asked whether Hancock had been correct to credit Brexit.

Pressed repeatedly on whether No 10 agreed with Hancock, the spokesman said only: “As I’ve said, it’s clear that we’re the first country in the world to approve this vaccine, and it’s obviously incredibly positive news.”

The health secretary made the claim in an interview with Times Radio, saying one reason for the quick approval was the MHRA’s “great job of working with the company to look at that data as it’s come through and do things in parallel, rather than one after the other as they normally would”.

(December 2, 2020)

The current lockdown in England ends, and the new strengthened tier system comes into force with nearly 99% of England headed for the strictest two tiers. Only the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are set to go into tier 1, with more than 32 million people in tier 2 and more than 23 million in the toughest tier 3.

(December 4, 2020)

New restriction come into force in Wales. Pubs, restaurants and cafes will be banned from serving alcohol, and will be unable to open to customers beyond 6pm. Businesses can offer a takeaway service after 6pm, and if they have an off-licence can sell takeaway alcohol up until 10pm. Bingo halls, bowling alleys, soft play centres, casinos, skating rinks and amusement arcades will also have to close.

The rule allowing four people from four different households to meet indoors in pubs and restaurants will stay in place. The decision will be reviewed on 17 December.

(December 16, 2020)

Ministers will consider data about England's coronavirus cases weekly throughout the tiers period, while legislation requires a formal review of tiering allocations every fortnight. The first review point is 16 December, with new tier allocations announced the following day – decided by a cabinet committee chaired by the prime minister. They will come into effect on Saturday 19 December, Boris Johnson said.

(December 23, 2020)

For five days over Christmas there will be a UK-wide relaxation of rules to let up to three households form a 'bubble' so they can mix socially indoors and stay overnight to enjoy the festive period together. In Scotland, a maximum of eight people will be allowed but that does not include under-12s. In Northern Ireland, the window has been extended to 22-28 December to allow for additional travel time between countries.

(February 3, 2021)

Johnson has announced a “sunset” clause on the tiered restrictions in England, meaning they will expire on 3 February and require MPs’ approval if they are to be extended into March.

Hancock continued: “The second reason is because, whilst until earlier this year we were in the European Medicines Agency, because of Brexit we’ve been able to make a decision to do this based on the UK regulator, a world-class regulator, and not go at the pace of the Europeans, who are moving a little bit more slowly.

“We do all the same safety checks and the same processes, but we have been able to speed up how they’re done because of Brexit.”

This notion is also contradicted in UK documents from Hancock’s own department. A 16 October publication on the rollout of coronavirus vaccines notes that the MHRA’s new licensing powers will begin on 1 January 2021, but that the UK can authorise medications for emergency use.

An MHRA statement from November in the wake of positive trial results for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine reiterated this, saying that if the UK wanted to go faster than the EMA pace before the end of the transition period, “EU legislation allows for temporary authorisation of supply in the UK, based on the public health need”.

Related: 'The buck stops with her': the woman who makes call on UK's Covid vaccines

In another interview, with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Hancock said he would agree to a live, on-air vaccination to spread the message of the importance of being vaccinated – but only with official authorisation.

Asked by Piers Morgan if they could both be vaccinated on TV, Hancock said: “Well, we’d have to get that approved because, of course, there is a prioritisation according to clinical need and, thankfully, as a healthy, middle-aged man, you’re not at the top of the prioritisation.

“But if we can get that approved and if people think that’s reasonable then I’m up for doing that because once the MHRA has approved a vaccine – they only do that if it is safe.

“If that can help anybody else, persuade anybody else that they should take the vaccine, then I think it’s worth it.”

Meanwhile, Germany’s ambassador to Britain, Andreas Michaelis, hit back at a claim by the UK business secretary, Alok Sharma, that “in years to come, we will remember this moment as the day the UK led humanity’s charge against this disease”.

The diplomat said: “Why is it so difficult to recognise this important step forward as a great international effort and success? I really don’t think this is a national story. In spite of the German company, BioNTech, having made a crucial contribution, this is European and transatlantic.”