§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of tuberculosis vaccine shortages in England in each of the last 10 years. [158964]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 26 April 2001]BCG vaccine has been in limited supply for some time owing to severe manufacturing problems encountered by the sole United Kingdom licensed source. As a result, we had no alternative but to request that health authorities suspend their routine schools immunisation programme for 10 to 14-year-olds from September 1999. This allowed us to maintain supplies of the vaccine for all those at a higher risk of tuberculosis (TB).
In July 2000, we advised that there was a sufficient supply of vaccine to initially restart the routine schools programme in the London area, where the highest rate of TB in the country currently occurs, in addition to the continued use for those in higher risk categories.
On 24 March, we announced that the routine schools BCG programme could begin again in schools across the country.
The 1994–95 school BCG programme was delayed in some areas because of the measles/rubella campaign.
Information about BCG vaccinations is contained in the statistical bulletin "National Health Service immunisation statistics, England: 1999–2000". A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0026.htm.