§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the circumstances in which his Department advises that the pertussis vaccine should not be administered to a baby; [43205]
(2) what guidelines are issued to health practitioners on the use of the pertussis vaccine on babies; and what are the recognised side-effects of the vaccine. [43203]
§ Ms JowellDetails of the recommendations for pertussis vaccine, the contraindications to vaccination and the adverse reactions associated with the pertussis vaccine are set out in the United Kingdom Health Departments' memorandum 'Immunisation against Infectious Disease'. This publication is issued to doctors, practice nurses, health visitors and pharmacists involved in immunisation. Copies are available in the Library.
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§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been recorded since 1987 of brain damage or blood poisoning which(a) have been attributed to the pertussis vaccine and (b) are claimed to be attributable to the pertussis vaccine but are yet to be determined. [43204]
§ Ms JowellThere has been one suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) report of mental handicap made via the United Kingdom spontaneous reporting scheme since 1987 associated with the multiconstituent diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. There have been no such reports of blood poisoning since 1987. Doctors are asked to report suspected adverse drug reactions via this scheme and therefore it is not possible to attribute causality definitely. When ADRs are reported with multiconstituent vaccines such as DTP it is not generally possible to know which, if any, component of the vaccine was responsible.