Written question asked by Daniel Byles (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 November 2010. It was answered by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Monday, 15 November 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Smallpox: Vaccination

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2010, Official Report, column 159W, on smallpox: vaccination, what estimate he has made of the number of those personnel who were vaccinated against smallpox in 2005 who continue to work in a relevant frontline health position; and what plans he has to maintain the strength of the cohort of vaccinated personnel.

Answer: The strength of the cohort of vaccinated front line health workers to deal with any initial suspected or confirmed case of smallpox, if one were to occur, is based in part on the threat level outlined in the National Risk Assessment (NRA). The NRA is a classified annual assessment of the risks (accidents, natural events and malicious attacks) facing the United Kingdom over a five year period. Based on the current risk, there is no proposal to change the number of people currently in the cohort.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 23867; 518 c628W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Smallpox: Vaccination
Monday, 8 November 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Vaccination Smallpox
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk