§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason BCG vaccinations are not offered in(a) Oxfordshire, (b) Avon and (c) York and Selby. [56995]
§ Ms BlearsThe Government have recommended continually since 1953 that BCG vaccine should be routinely offered to all school children aged between 10 and 14 years of age. This is based on the advice of an independent expert advisory committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
This recommendation was reviewed by the JCVI during 1996 and their advice was that the schools programme should continue; health authorities were advised of this in July 1996. The decision not to implement this advice in Oxfordshire, Avon and York and Selby was taken locally by the health authorities.