HL Deb 12 January 1998 vol 584 cc149-50WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces who served in Operation Granby have "Rabbit Fever" (rabbit peroxinase) entered on their vaccination records; what was the purpose of the vaccine; and what regime is in place to monitor its effects; and

Whether Gulf veterans who have "Rabbit Fever" (rabbit peroxinase) entered onto their vaccine records (B27) have been advised by a Ministry of Defence official that these records will be considered to be forgeries and the holders prosecuted; and what is their response.

Lord Gilbert

In the course of work in the Gulf veterans' illnesses, the Ministry of Defence received a copy of an anonymous vaccination record which appeared to show a vaccination for rabbit fever, also known as tularemia, as one of a set of five vaccinations given on a date in Janaury 1991. The record was passed to MoD officials via a Gulf veterans' group in response to a request by MoD for information about the implementation of the anti-biological warfare immunisation programme. It had an identifiable signature and unit stamp, which has enabled the medical officer who had apparently administered the five injections to be traced and shown the document. He has confirmed that two entries, for anthrax and pertussis vaccines, are in his handwriting and that he gave these injections; however he has stated that he did not administer any vaccinations against rabbit fever, and that the remaining three entries on the document, which include the one for rabbit fever, are not in his handwriting. It is his belief that these entries have been added subsequently.

An unlicensed US vaccine is known to be available against tularemia. So far as the MoD can ascertain, this vaccine was not administered to UK troops during Operation Granby. However, the MoD will continue to investigate this matter as part of its fact finding work to examine the range of routine vaccines which may have been received by certain groups of Service personnel deployed to the Gulf.

The individuals who had originally brought this document to MoD's attention were told that only two of the five vaccination entries were now regarded as genuine during a recent meeting with MoD officials. The MoD believes the document was passed to it in good faith and the matter has not been referred to the police.