Written question asked by Daniel Byles (Conservative) on Monday, 1 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 November 2010. It was answered by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Monday, 8 November 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Smallpox: Vaccination

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff are vaccinated against smallpox for the purposes of first response in the event of a smallpox outbreak or biological attack.

Answer: Vaccination of a cohort of front line health workers to deal with any initial suspected or confirmed case of smallpox if one were to occur was completed in 2005. The cohort comprised a total of 516 vaccinated personnel of whom 147 were doctors, 164 were nurses, 100 were ambulance staff, 32 were scientists and 73 held other related health care occupations. All were carefully screened and monitored and none had adverse complications that required vaccinia immunoglobulin. There is no proposal to increase the numbers of people in the cohort.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 21898; 518 c159W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Smallpox: Vaccination
Monday, 15 November 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Vaccination Smallpox
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk