§ Baroness Noakesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the advice that they received which led to their decision to purchase the Lister strain of smallpox vaccine rather than the NYCBH strain. [HL3920]
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§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe choice of smallpox vaccine strain took into account expert advice under the auspices of a specially convened sub-group of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The advice of the JCVI sub-group was that there was no difference between the two strains on scientific grounds. Vaccines based on both strains were considered to have been effective in the past. However the JCVI sub-group concluded that there was a greater body of evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of the Lister strain rather than for the New York City Board of Health strain and that the smallpox vaccine has been challenged in the field more often by the more severe form of smallpox [variola major] with the strain chosen by the United Kingdom Government. The JCVI sub-group also recommended that using a different strain of vaccine from that used in the United States offered the greatest safeguard if difficulties arose with the production of either strain ensuring that the alternative strain could act as a fall-back.
§ Baroness Noakesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, when they awarded the contract for smallpox vaccine to PowderJect Pharmaceuticals, they were aware that the company did not intend to manufacture the vaccine itself; and whether they approved the plan to sub-contract manufacture to Bavarian Nordic. [HL3922]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathBavarian Nordic was the only company able to supply vaccines that met the Government's requirements. It was known that its chosen United Kingdom partners, PowderJect, would act as its distributors. At Bavarian Nordic's request, the contract of supply has been entered into with PowderJect.
§ Baroness Noakesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was meant by the Prime Minister's statement (HC Deb, 17 April, col. 567) that "many companies were asked to tender" for the smallpox vaccine contract. [HL3924]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathDetailed confidential discussions were held with five major pharmaceutical companies which were known to have vaccine manufacturing capability either in the United Kingdom or in Europe. Our requirements for the vaccine strain, timing and delivery were made clear to each of the companies, which were then given time to submit their responses.
Only one company, Bavarian Nordic, met these requirements. Its chosen UK partners, PowderJect, will act as its distributors in the UK. At Bavarian Nordic's request, the contract of supply has been entered into with PowderJect.