HL Deb 28 January 2003 vol 643 cc146-7WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government

Whether the immunisation programme for troops now deploying to the Gulf is consistent with the findings so far of the study now being undertaken at Porton Down of the interactions in relation to the multiple immunisation programme adopted for troops involved in the Gulf War. [HL1063]

Lord Bach

The Defence Scientific and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down is studying whether the combination of vaccines and tablets used to protect United Kingdom personnel during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict can give rise to adverse health effects. We plan to publish interim findings on the short-term effects of vaccine and pyridostigmine bromide on marmosets in the next few months.

We have acknowledged that the 1990–91 Gulf conflict revealed shortcomings in medical preparedness. A number of personnel were not up to date with their standard service immunisations. We have since modified our policy guidance to ensure that all troops are immunised routinely. Additional checks have been introduced to ensure personnel are up to date with their immunisations, therefore it should not be necessary to administer several immunisations on deployment.

For those service personnel who are not up to date with their immunisations, as with any medical treatment, the offer of immunisation would take full account of any other treatment or medication an individual might be receiving at the same time.

Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government

Whether they expect, as troops now deploy to the Gulf, an interim report from the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research at Porton Down on its study of the safety or otherwise of the multiple immunisation programme adopted for troops. [HL1064]

Lord Bach

It is the Defence Scientific and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down rather than the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research which is studying whether the combination of vaccines and tablets used to protect United Kingdom personnel during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict can give rise to adverse health effects. We plan to publish interim findings on the short-term effects of vaccines and pyridostigmine bromide on marmosets within the next few months.