HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 c476W
Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in(a)the USA and (b)other European countries on the incidence of pneumococcal disease in those aged under two. [45455]

Yvette Cooper

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been introduced into the routine programme in the US and since the vaccine was licensed there has been little information on its national impact, other than in the population that took part in the clinical trials. Nevertheless, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has been made aware of these results. Similarly, reviews of the epidemiology of pneumococcal disease in England and Wales have been presented to the JCVI, along with progress reports on UK studies to evaluate the suitability of this vaccine for this country. There are only limited data available on pneumococcal disease in those under two years from other European countries.

Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine will be made available to all children aged under two. [45454]

Yvette Cooper

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has only recently been licensed for use in European Union countries. The Chief Medical Officer has already sent advice to doctors on the use of this vaccine in children less than two years, with risk factors for pneumococcal disease. Its use in all children will be dependent on the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the results of trials on the vaccine's suitability for inclusion in the national immunisation programme and considerations of costs and benefits.

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