§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what stocks of vaccines are held by the NHS for illnesses known to have the potential to be used in biological warfare. [86034]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department holds stocks of anthrax and smallpox vaccines centrally on behalf of the national health service. Such stocks can be rapidly deployed across the United Kingdom for use in the NHS in the event of a bioterrorist incident. A small stock of Anthrax vaccine for protection against occupational exposure is held by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS). A stock of botulinum antitoxin is also held by the PHLS for use in the NHS.