HC Deb 02 December 1998 vol 321 cc208-9W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requests he has made to the manufacturers of MR and MMR vaccines for data on the possible side-effects of their products. [61612]

Ms Jowell

Since 1988 the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has requested information from the manufacturers of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine about aseptic meningitis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Manufacturers have an ongoing obligation to provide to the MCA all serious suspected adverse reactions within 15 days of receipt, and to provide periodic safety update reports at specified intervals.

In addition, manufacturers may be requested at any time to provide further information necessary for the evaluation of the risks and benefits of a medicine.