§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what validation was obtained for studies of vaccines in humans that are now being administered to troops sent to the Gulf. [95929]
§ Dr. MoonieService personnel are routinely offered a range of vaccinations to protect against disease. Service personnel deploying to the Gulf region are also offered vaccination against anthrax. All these vaccines are licensed products. The Medicines Control Agency's, licensing process requires the licence applicant to conduct studies into the efficacy and safety of their product.
Vaccination against smallpox is being offered to a, cohort of specialist NEC personnel and certain medical personnel some of whom are deploying to the Gulf region. The smallpox vaccine is not currently licensed, but is being used on the basis of expert medical advice.