§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What figures they have for the take-up of the anthrax vaccine, in percentage terms, by service personnel now deployed or deploying to the Gulf in the Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Army respectively. [HL1312]
§ Lord BachAll personnel deploying to the Gulf are offered anthrax vaccination. It is their personal choice whether or not they accept the vaccination. Information is held centrally on the total numbers of personnel who have been offered, and have accepted, anthrax vaccination. The numbers of personnel in each service who have been offered, and have accepted, anthrax vaccination as at 12 February 2003, are shown below:
Service Total Personnel Offered Number accepted Percentage uptake Naval Services 3,589 1,346 37.5 Army 6,466 4,340 67.1 RAF 8.572 3,840 44.8 Joint NBC Regt 239 151 63.2 Total 18.866 9.677 51.3 Information regarding the take-up of the anthrax vaccine by service personnel who have deployed, or are deploying, to the Gulf is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.