§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his future policy is for BCG vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the availability of the vaccine. [27593]
§ Yvette CooperOur recommendation for the use of BCG vaccine is based on the advice of an independent expert advisory committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which is regularly reviewed.
539WBCG vaccine is readily available to all those recommended to receive it. These include:
Health service staff who may have come in contact with infectious patients or their specimens.Veterinary or other staff who handle animal species known to be susceptible to tuberculosis.Staff of prisons, old people's homes, refugee hostels and hostels for the homeless.Contacts of cases known to be suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis.Immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of TB, their children and infants wherever born.Those intending to stay in Asia, Africa, central or south America for more than a month.School children between the ages of 10 and 14 years.This policy is set out in the booklet "Immunisation against Infectious Disease 1996".