§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the production and availability of DTP boosters. [107510]
§ Yvette CooperDiphtheria, tetanus (DT) vaccine rather than diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine is used as a booster in the United Kingdom immunisation programme. DT has been in short supply due to the inability of Medeva, one of the two UK licensed sources, to supply contracted vaccine. A third manufacturer, Behring, has now obtained a product licence for its DT vaccine to be used in the UK and the first batches are due for release at the end of February 2000. This should give the UK enough stock to allow GPs and clinics to catch up on any deferred appointments for immunisation.