§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy for encouraging a programme of vaccination against hepatitis B; what guidance he has given to general medical practitioners on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 12 December at column450 about immunisation programmes for health authority staff. The guidance from the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, which was sent to all doctors in the United Kingdom in July, deals also with other at risk groups for whom immunisation by general medical practitioners may be appropriate.