§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons some private practices are being denied access to the meningitis C vaccine. [107990]
§ Yvette CooperThe campaign to immunise all children and young people under the age of 18 with the new meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is being undertaken by the National Health Service. Any child eligible to receive this vaccine can do so via the NHS. Any individual in the country may approach a general practitioner for NHS treatment, including immunisation if appropriate. Treatment is conditional on the GP's acceptance of the patient for NHS services.
The meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is new and manufacturers held no stockpiles in advance of the launch. We have distributed every batch of vaccine as fast as it has been released. Distribution has been in line with the implementation schedule with the vaccine being targeted specifically at those groups at highest risk first.
219WThe only way to guarantee a successful roll-out of the new vaccine, which is in limited supply, has been to ensure it is available through the NHS. The Department of Health has therefore bought all the vaccine available for the NHS. Once the NHS programme to immunise every child under-18 has been completed, sometime later this year, the vaccine will then be available to others outside of this group.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to ensure sufficient supplies of the meningitis C vaccine are produced. [107992]
§ Yvette CooperThe meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is a brand new vaccine. The Department has calculated the amount of vaccine needed to immunise those covered by the immunisation programme and has contracted with vaccine manufacturers to ensure sufficient vaccine is available to implement the programme. The Department continues to liaise closely with manufacturers and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls, which tests every batch of vaccine for safety and potency, to ensure vaccine is made available to the NHS as soon as it becomes available. The Department will continue to seek to ensure adequate supply through close liaison with vaccine manufacturers. The NHS is the first healthcare system in the world to protect people with this new vaccine.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the meningitis C inoculation programme for the under-18s will be completed this year. [107993]
§ Yvette CooperYes, subject to manufacturers meeting their supply contracts.