Gavin Williamson Claims The UK Approved A Coronavirus Vaccine First Because It Is A "Much Better Country"
Gavin Williamson has claimed the UK is a "much better country" than France, Belgium and the US
2 min read
Gavin Williamson has claimed the UK's speedy approval of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine was due to it being a "much better country" than France, Belgium and the US.
The UK become the first country in the world to approve a clinical vaccine for coronavirus on Wednesday after the medicines regulator, the MHRA, gave the green light for the jab to be rolled out from next week.
The Education Secretary said this is because the UK has the "best medical regulators", dodging questions about the impact of Brexit on the approval process of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Speaking after the approval announcement on Wednesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that "because of Brexit" the UK regulator had been able to approve the vaccine without having to wait for the European Medicines Agency to do so.
But his claims were later contradicted by both No10 and senior figures within the regulator, with a spokesperson for Boris Johnson insisting the approval was "thanks to the hard work of the MHRA".
Meanwhile, Dr June Raine, head of the regulatory agency said the green light to roll out the vaccine from next week was made "using provisions under European law which exist until January 1".
But pressed on the impact of Brexit on the approval process, Mr Williamson instead suggested the approval was down to the UK having "much better" medical regulators than France, Belgium and America.
"Well I just reckon we've got the very best people in this country and we've obviously got the best medical regulators," he told LBC
"Much better than the French have, much better than the Belgians have, much better than the Americans have.
"That doesn't surprise me at all because we're a much better country that every single one of them, aren't we."
He added: "Just being able to get on with things, deliver it and with brilliant people in our medical regulator making it happen means that people in this country are going to be the first ones in the world to get that Pfizer vaccine."
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