HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc977-8W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make public funding available to meet the costs incurred by parents choosing to travel to France to obtain the single measles vaccination for their children, following its withdrawal from the United Kingdom. [55503]

Ms Jowell

None. Single measles vaccine has not been recommended in the United Kingdom since 1988. Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine is recommended to protect against measles.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his Department's policy that parents who are concerned about the possible side effects of the MMR vaccination should have access to other forms of vaccination for their children. [55502]

Ms Jowell

The United Kingdom health departments are advised on immunisation policy by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, an independent expert statutory committee. The use of single vaccines in place of Measles, Mumps and Rubella is not recommended since there is no evidence that doing this has any benefit and it may even be harmful. This Department's policy is to ensure parents are provided with factual information about immunisation and that immunisation recommendations are backed up by sound scientific research. The administration of separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines instead of MMR is not supported by any studies into its safety or efficacy.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with Pasteur Merieux MSD to discuss the withdrawal of the single measles vaccination from the United Kingdom(a) before and (b) since the withdrawal was announced. [55501]

Ms Jowell

On 20 August 1998, representatives of Pasteur Merieux informed Departmental officials that they had decided not to supply unlicensed measles vaccine to the United Kingdom. Single measles vaccine has not been recommended in the United Kingdom since 1988.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contact he has had with the Pasteur Merieux Company concerning the withdrawal of general availability of the single measles vaccine. [55481]

Ms Jowell

Ministers have had no contact with Pasteur Merieux about this issue. On 20 August 1998, representatives of Pasteur Merieux informed Departmental officials that they had decided not to supply unlicensed measles vaccine to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the decision of some parents to take their children to other countries for the single measles vaccine. [55482]

Ms Jowell

Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine is readily available in the United Kingdom to protect children against not only measles, but also mumps and rubella, all of which are potentially serious diseases. Single measles vaccine has not been recommended in the United Kingdom since 1988.