The Prime Minister urged negotiators at the COP26 summit to make bold compromises and ambitious commitments so that we can meet the goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees. Good progress was made at COP26, with agreements to end deforestation, cut methane emission, phase out coal and step-up climate finance – and countries must continue to build on that success to further protect our planet. That is why the Prime Minister is urging the nations at COP26 to pull together and urged them to make the bold compromises and ambitious commitments needed to keep 1.5C alive. The UK’s COP26 Presidency has already seen impressive and far-reaching agreements on climate, and we will continue to push other nations to match the action we are taking as a world leader in the fight against climate change.
Many people have contacted me to ask about booster vaccinations, so I am pleased that the government is being very vocal in calling for eligible people to come forward to get vaccinated, get boosted, and get protected. I am also pleased that we have made it easier to get a booster jab by opening up bookings a month earlier. So far, nearly ten million people have received a booster jab or a third vaccine dose – but there are many more who will benefit from the protection of a third dose who have not yet come forward. That is why I am urging eligible people in North Cornwall to get their booster jabs as soon as possible. We have made it easier to get vaccinated by allowing people to book their appointments five months after their second dose and by making jabs available at walk-in centres without appointments. Vaccines offer high levels of protection against COVID-19 but immunity reduces over time, so it's vital that eligible people get that booster jab as soon as possible to top up their defences and keep them safe through the winter.
I was very pleased to support cutting the cost of repeatable Hormone Replacement Therapy prescriptions and the creation of a Menopause Taskforce. This will save women who rely on HRT hundreds of pounds a year, and I hope that the new task force leads to further improvements on policy relating to this important but under-discussed part of women's health. This could mean women would only have to pay one charge for up to a 12-month supply of HRT, saving up to £205 per year as a result. To further improve access to HRT prescriptions, the government has also committed to looking into combining two hormone treatments into one prescription, which affects approximately 10% of women accessing HRT. Under current rules, HRT is sometimes classed as two medicines if it contains both oestrogen and progesterone meaning women may be charged twice for one course of treatment.
