HL Deb 27 July 1998 vol 592 cc173-4WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many members of the Armed Forces who were recently advised to be inoculated with anthrax vaccine in order to protect them against possible exposure during service have exercised their right to refuse to be inoculated. [HL1825]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)

The level of uptake of immunisation against anthrax appears to vary considerably depending on unit location. For example, the latest figures show that 66 per cent. of troops stationed in Kuwait have taken the vaccine, compared with 18 per cent. of servicemen and women serving afloat in the Gulf. As of 13 July, the overall position was that 4,482 UK service and MoD personnel had been offered a course of anthrax immunisation, of whom 3,010 had declined.