Written question asked by Lord Morris of Manchester (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Drayson (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 November 2006.

Gulf War Illnesses

Question: Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8), for how long possible adverse effects on the health of staff at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down, reported to have received the combination of vaccines and tablets administered to United Kingdom forces deployed to the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, will be monitored.

Answer: The study of sick absence in multi-vaccinated staff at DSTL Porton Down, which examined records covering periods of employment from two to 38 years, was completed in 2001. The study examined vaccinations only. The vaccines administered were those required by the staff in the course of their duties. These included anti-biological warfare and health and hygiene vaccinations which, while not the same regimens as used at the time of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, were considered to provide a comparison that was relevant to our considerationof the possible health effects of the vaccination programme for veterans of that conflict.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 8033; 686 c184WA
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Gulf War Illnesses
Thursday, 19 October 2006
Written statements
House of Lords
Subjects: Chemical and biological warfare Monitoring Vaccination Side effects Sick leave Dstl
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk