§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the wastage rate of vaccines used by the NHS resulting from poor storage or distribution conditions and the cost of such wastage to the NHS since May 1997. [112995]
§ Yvette CooperThis information is not collected centrally. However, the issue of vaccine usage, including wastage, is the subject of a review currently being conducted, commissioned by the Department. This study will make recommendations on vaccine storage and usage and on measures to minimise wastage at local level; these recommendations will be issued in due course.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of the new meningococcal conjugate vaccine have been discarded because of poor storage or distribution conditions; and what has been the cost to the NHS of discarded doses of the vaccine. [112997]
§ Yvette CooperThe information requested is not available centrally.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of the new meningococcal conjugate vaccine have been issued under the current immunisation programme; and how many children have been immunised. [112996]
§ Yvette CooperBy 27 February 2000, 3,301,280 doses of meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine had been issued for the immunisation of babies, and 2,408,420 doses of vaccine had been issued for the immunisation of schoolchildren aged 15 to 17 years, a total of 5,709,700 doses.
Data on how many children have been immunised so far are not yet available.