§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what precautions are available to(a) forces personnel, (b) officials and (c) Ministers in his Department travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection; [61053]
117W(2) what advice is offered to (a) forces personnel, (b) officials and (c) Ministers in his Department travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection, with regard to deciding whether to receive (i) y- (gamma-) globulin or (ii) the alternative hepatitis A vaccine. [61054]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 27 November 1998]: Members of the Armed Forces, Defence Ministers and officials travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection are offered immunisation against the disease in accordance with advice issued by the Department of Health. Gamma globulin (Known as human normal immunoglobulin) would be offered, in addition to hepatitis A vaccination, for short notice visits to areas of significant risk when protection is required within 10 days of the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine. Advice on appropriate immunisation is available from MOD medical staff.