§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the letter from the Lord Bach to the Lord Morris of Manchester dated 2 December concerning smallpox vaccine—(a) whether the vaccine was administered routinely to members of HM forces until the mid-1970s, and how many members of HM forces, if any, suffered serious adverse reactions or fatalities; (b) which other vaccines administered to troops deploying to the Gulf in 1990 have had similar side-effects for a small number of service personnel; and (c) what is the result of the combined immunisation programmes for those who do react adversely, and whether they will place a copy of the Minister's letter in the Library of the House. [HL925]
§ Lord BachSmallpox vaccine was administered routinely to UK civilians of school age until the mid-1970s. Armed Forces personnel were also vaccinated upon enlistment and routinely re-vaccinated every three years. This programme was abandoned in the early 1980s following a declaration by the World Health Organisation that smallpox had been eradicated. Smallpox vaccine can produce mild adverse reactions common to many vaccines, including a sore arm, mild fever, headache, fatigue and a permanent scar at the vaccination site. In a very small proportion of people, vaccination against smallpox can produce more serious adverse reactions including serious skin reactions and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Records of adverse reactions to smallpox vaccine among Armed Forces personnel from that era were not kept centrally and the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate effort. Smallpox vaccine was not given to UK Armed Forces personnel during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. We are confident that none of the vaccines given to UK Armed Forces personnel at the time of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict would have produced serious adverse reactions similar to those than can arise from smallpox vaccine.
We announced our intention to vaccinate a small cohort of Armed Forces personnel against smallpox. I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to my noble friend Lady Goudie on 2 December 2002, WA 73–74. UK Armed Forces personnel offered smallpox vaccine will be rigorously screened so as to eliminate, as far as possible, the risk of a serious adverse reaction.
64WASmallpox vaccine would not be administered alongside other vaccines except in an emergency.
I will place a copy of the Letter in the Library of the House.