§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the licence holders of each of the licensed vaccines administered to military personnel in the Gulf war 1990–91.
§ Mr. SoamesThe licence holders of the vaccines administered to military personnel in the Gulf war 1990–91 are:
- a. Wellcome medical division–licence holder for:
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Poliomyelitis
- Yellow Fever
- Cholera
- The licence holder for the above products is now Evans Medical.
- b. Smithkline Beecham—licence holder of Hepatitis B vaccine.
- c. Merieux and Smithkline Beecham—licence holders for meningococ all vaccine.
- d. Details relating to vaccines employed by British forces against the biological warfare threat are classified.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many patients have been examined by his Department's appointed specialist for problems associated with Operation Granby; if these patients undergo tests to ascertain their immune status; and if there were any toxic residues in their blood or body tissues.
§ Mr. SoamesForty patients have so far been examined by the military medical consultant physician appointed to investigate personnel who believe their health has been adversely affected by Operation Granby.
The special tests employed in these assessments are tailored to the particular requirements of each patient after considering the medical and occupational history, the reported symptoms and clinical signs found on examination. If considered clinically necessary, these special tests include immunological and toxicological investigations.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the vaccines administered to military personnel in the Gulf war 1990–91.
§ Mr. SoamesThe vaccines administered to military personnel in the Gulf war 1990–91 fall into three groups:
- a. Those administered as a matter of peacetime routine—these are only administered when in-date immunity has lapsed:
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Poliomyelitis
- Yellow Fever
- Hepatitis B—medical staff only
- b. Those administered to combat natural disease threats specific to the area of deployment:
- Cholera
- Meningococcal Meningitis—medical staff and personnel in day-to-day contact with host nation personnel
- c. Anti-biological warfare vaccines. Details of the specific medical countermeasures employed by British forces against
58 the potential biological warfare threat during Operation Granby remain classified.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence why it was considered necessary to vaccinate Her Majesty's forces serving in Operation Granby against plague and not botulism toxoid; and what account was taken of the policy of the United States Department of Defence on the subject.
§ Mr. SoamesDetails of the specific medical countermeasures employed by British forces against the potential biological warfare threat during Operation Granby remain classified.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list details of the names and specific expertise of the medical specialists examining members and former members of the armed forces who have complained of suffering from desert war syndrome.
§ Mr. SoamesAt present, all members and former members of the armed forces who come forward for medical assessment in connection with the alleged Gulf war syndrome are seen initially by Wing Commander W. J. Coker OBE BA BSc MB ChB FRCP, consultant physician at Princess Alexandra's RAF hospital, Wroughton. Dependent upon the results of these initial examinations, the patient may be referred to an appropriate military or civilian specialist for further investigation.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is an authorised practice to administer whooping cough vaccine together with anthrax vaccine; and what was the reason for administering this combination to Her Majesty's forces taking part in Operation Granby.
§ Mr. SoamesDetails relating to biological warfare protection measures employed by British forces remain classified.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the research data on the vaccines administered to military personnel in the Gulf war of 1990–91.
§ Mr. SoamesNo. The only research material on vaccines held by my Department relates to biological warfare protection measures employed by British forces and is classified.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all the vaccines administered to military personnel in the Gulf war of 1990–91 were licensed.
§ Mr. SoamesAll vaccines administered to military personnel in the Gulf war of 1990–91 were licensed. Civilian vaccine product licences do not, however, cover prophylactic use against a biological warfare threat, but those administered to United Kingdom troops for this purpose were licensed for similar civilian use in their country of origin.