Vaccines (Hansard, 3 July 2000)

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many yellow card reports have been received by the Medicines Control Agency of suspected adverse reactions to each routine vaccine in each year since 1990. [122910]

§ Yvette Cooper
[holding answer 19 May 2000]: The yellow card reports to the Medicines Control Agency of suspected adverse reactions to a routine vaccine are

Number of reports by year

Vaccine 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Measles 504 249 183 131 1,289 245 148 214 155 96 52

Rubella 504 255 475 140 1,291 248 156 216 160 237 52

Mumps 493 247 183 131 140 133 142 211 155 96 52

Diphtheria 311 312 357 487 453 417 545 431 500 699 148

Tetanus 522 434 475 564 567 465 595 475 545 733 117

Whooping cough 246 199 231 343 301 209 298 250 237 595 75

Polio 13 43 100 124 99 83 91 92 131 111 45

BCG 246 27 30 33 29 63 91 40 38 47 3

Haemophilus influenzae type B 0 0 543 1,132 293 125 217 226 187 339 72

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if vaccines are produced using human serum for individuals who would suffer an allergic reaction to the presence of bovine material in the vaccine. [124087]

§ Yvette Cooper
No. No bovine material is used as an ingredient in vaccines. Where bovine material is used in manufacture, purification processes are designed to remove material from the finished product.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2000,Official Report, column 424W, on human vaccines, what was the first date of the use of bovine material in the early stages of the manufacture of vaccines. [124372]

§ Yvette Cooper
[holding answer 5 June 2000]: Vaccines were in use many years before there were controls on safety, quality and efficacy of medicinal products as introduced by the Medicines Act 1968 and have traditionally used bovine materials in their production since the 19^th century.
Since 1968 there have been increasing controls on the manufacture of medicines, including vaccines, such that today we require manufacturers to supply very detailed information about materials and processes used in manufacture and we have a well-developed system of routine inspection against those standards.
As a result it is not possible to specify the first date of the use of bovine material in the early stages of vaccine manufacture.

Number of reports by year
Vaccine	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Measles	504	249	183	131	1,289	245	148	214	155	96	52
Rubella	504	255	475	140	1,291	248	156	216	160	237	52
Mumps	493	247	183	131	140	133	142	211	155	96	52
Diphtheria	311	312	357	487	453	417	545	431	500	699	148
Tetanus	522	434	475	564	567	465	595	475	545	733	117
Whooping cough	246	199	231	343	301	209	298	250	237	595	75
Polio	13	43	100	124	99	83	91	92	131	111	45
BCG	246	27	30	33	29	63	91	40	38	47	3
Haemophilus influenzae type B	0	0	543	1,132	293	125	217	226	187	339	72