Smallpox (Hansard, 8 January 2003)

§ Dr. Murrison
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements exist to vaccinate people in remote areas in the event of a smallpox threat. [87247]

§ Mr. Hutton
Responsibility for putting in place appropriate local arrangements for vaccinations against smallpox will rest with the regional directors of public health (RDsPH). The Department of Health has recently published its draft guidance for dealing with smallpox and invited comment and discussion on the plans for dealing with any smallpox outbreak. RDsPH were involved in the drafting of the guidance. In this guidance, it is intended to establish 12 regional smallpox response groups across the United Kingdom, consisting of infectious disease physicians, paediatricians, public health physicians, microbiologists/virologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses and occupational health staff who will be able to set up specialist care and vaccination centres for the regions in the event of a smallpox emergency.

§ Dr. Murrison
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to distribute smallpox vaccine. [87248]

§ Mr. Hutton
The strategic stock of smallpox vaccine is held centrally and arrangements have been put in place whereby the vaccine can be delivered to anywhere in the mainland United Kingdom within 24 hours of a request286WS for vaccine, 365 days of the year. As smallpox has been eradicated, this is only likely to be in response to a bioterrorist incident, whereupon the Chief Medical Officer or nominated Deputy would authorise the release of vaccine.
As part of plans for dealing with any smallpox incident, it is intended to establish 12 regional smallpox response groups across the UK. The staff in these groups, consisting of infectious disease physicians, paediatricians, public health physicians, microbiologists/virologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses and occupational health staff will be able to set up vaccination centres for the regions in the event of a smallpox emergency.

§ Dr. Gibson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to vaccinate the whole UK population against smallpox. [87407]

§ Mr. Hutton
There are no plans to vaccinate the whole population as a contingency measure against the threat of a bioterrorist incident involving smallpox. Mass vaccination of the population could be justifiable if there was a smallpox attack or outbreak but it would not be acceptable to expose people to the risk of vaccination in the absence of any possible exposure to the smallpox virus.
Smallpox vaccine has a much higher rate of serious complications than vaccines that are in regular use today. Certain groups are at even higher risk, such as those with weak immune systems or with severe eczema.
We have already announced that a small number of key frontline national health service staff and a small number of military personnel who would provide the first response in the event of a confirmed, suspected or threatened release of smallpox will be vaccinated shortly. We are discussing with other Government Departments how to identify key workers in the emergency services and agreeing circumstances and timing under which they might be vaccinated.
Our contingency plans for dealing with smallpox are detailed in the draft guidelines on smallpox available on http://www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/cbr/biol/smallpoxplan.htm