Jacob Rees-Mogg ‘wrong’ on Brexit role in Covid jab approval, say factcheckers

<p>Jacob Rees-Mogg was “wrong” on Covid jab claim</p> (PA)

Jacob Rees-Mogg was “wrong” on Covid jab claim

(PA)
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Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg was wrong in claiming Britain was only able to fast-track approval of a Covid-19 jab because of Brexit, say independent factcheckers.

After the UK’s regulator gave the go-ahead for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the Commons Leader tweeted: “We could only approve this vaccine so quickly because we have left the EU.

“Last month we changed the regulations so a vaccine did not need EU approval which is slower.”

However, the leading Brexiteer’s claim was quickly contradicted by Dr June Raine, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, who said: “We have been able to authorise the supply of this vaccine using provisions under European law, which exist until 1 January.”

FullFact, a respected independent body, has examined the Cabinet minister’s assertion.

In its verdict, it concluded: “Jacob Rees-Mogg incorrectly claimed that the UK was ‘only’ able to approve the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine more quickly because of Brexit.

“Regulation 174 of the Human Medicine Regulations 2012 allows for the temporary authorisation of an unlicensed medicinal product in the case of certain types of public health threat, such as a pandemic.

“Regulation 174 was described by the Government as “an implementing measure” for EU law (Article 5(2) of the EU Medicines Directive 2001/83).

“This hasn’t been repealed, and so this law is still in effect until January 1.”

The factcheckers added: “It appears that the regulator had the power to authorise this vaccine in an emergency scenario, regardless of Brexit.

“The UK’s own regulator, the MHRA, said on 18 November that this existing provision was the basis for its authority to approve the vaccine: Until the end of December, and as part of the transition period, Covid-19 vaccine candidates can be licensed (authorised) via the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and that authorisation will automatically be valid in the UK.

“Dr June Raine, Chief Executive of the MHRA, has also said: ‘We have been able to authorise the supply of this vaccine using provisions under European law, which exist until 1 January’.”

Mr Rees-Mogg has been challenged in the Commons about his remarks and he has responded by stressing Britain should be “proud” of the speed at which the regulator gave the green light for the vaccine, suggesting it may be linked to Brexit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made a similar but more nuanced claim as Mr Rees-Mogg’s Twitter message on Brexit’s role in fast-tracking a vaccine for the UK.

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