§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the difference in the level of protection against inhaled anthrax provided to veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict for those who received the first anthrax-pertussis injection only, as compared to those who received the first and second, and as compared to those who received the first, the second and the third. [HL519]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)No studies of the efficacy of United Kingdom anthrax vaccine against inhalation anthrax have been undertaken in humans. Animal studies with the UK vaccine suggest that although a single immunisation will induce a response, optimum protective immunity is achieved by administering booster doses. Most vaccines require several doses to achieve and maintain protective immunity and the anthrax vaccine is not expected to be different. In 1991, anthrax vaccine and pertussis vaccine were co-administered, rather than being combined and given in one injection. In February 1991, the decision was taken to drop pertussis from the anti-biological warfare programme.