§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how stocks of BCG vaccine are allocated on the basis of clinical need; who makes the applications; and who determines the allocation. [105193]
§ Yvette CooperBCG vaccine is currently being made available at the request of clinicians who have determined, on the basis of clinical need and in accordance with existing recommendations, that an individual is at higher risk from tuberculosis and that immunisation with BCG vaccine is necessary. The Department is advised on BCG vaccination policy by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The recommendations are contained in the Health Departments' handbook, "Immunisation against Infectious Disease". Those at higher risk of tuberculosis include health service staff who may have contact with infectious patients or their specimens; veterinary and other staff who handle animal species known to be susceptible to tuberculosis; staff of prisons, old people's homes, refugee hostels and hostels for the homeless; contacts of cases known to be suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis; and, immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and their children and infants wherever born.
Vaccine is distributed through Farillon who are the national distribution agent of all vaccines supplied as a part of the routine childhood immunisation programme. While supplies are limited, orders are accepted only for those at high risk; ultimately, the distributor has to trust the integrity of those placing orders.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the routine BCG vaccination programme for school children in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar will recommence. [105194]
§ Yvette CooperThe schools BCG vaccination programme will recommence in England once we have assurance that uninterrupted vaccine supply can be guaranteed. The problem with the supply of BCG has been due to manufacturing problems with Medeva Pharma who provide the only licensed source of BCG vaccine. The assurances we have received so far do not allow us to give a date for restarting the programme.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school children in the Brentwood and Ongar constituency are waiting to receive BCG vaccination. [105191]
§ Yvette CooperThe information requested is not available centrally.