§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the injection rates for TB have been in each year since 1990; what percentage of the United Kingdom population has been inoculated against TB in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [150396]
§ Yvette CooperInformation about immunisation against tuberculosis (BCG) is contained in the Statistical Bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 1999–2000". A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and can also be found on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0026.htm.
Although the routine schools immunisation programme for 10 to 14-year-olds was suspended in September 1999 due to severe manufacturing problems encountered by the sole United Kingdom licensed source, Celltech Medeva, BCG vaccine against tuberculosis has always been available for those individuals at higher risk of TB. On 19 July, the Department announced that there is now sufficient supply of vaccine to initially restart the routine schools programme in the London area, where the highest rate of tuberculosis in the country currently occurs.
The Department is doing all it can to secure a robust supply of UK licensed and batch released BCG vaccine, and will announce as soon as possible when the routine schools programme can resume across the country. All 451W those who missed their BCG vaccination due to the suspension of the programme will be recalled as part of a catch-up programme.