Written question asked by Peter Luff (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 March 1997. It was answered by Lord Horam (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 March 1997 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: What expert advice he has received or has requested about the advantages of (a) ante-natal screening for and (b) infant vaccination against hepatitis B.

Answer: Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expert advice he has received or has requested about the advantages of (a) antenatal screening for and (b) infant vaccination against hepatitis B; and if he will make a statement. [20211] Mr. Horam: The United Kingdom has one of the lowest prevalence rates of hepatitis B carriage in the world. Our current policy is to target immunisation at groups at increased risk of infection including babies born to women who are chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus or who have had acute hepatitis B infection during pregnancy. The National Screening Committee is considering the antenatal screening programme for hepatitis B and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is considering what may be the most appropriate future strategy for the control of hepatitis B, in the context of the whole childhood immunisation programme.

Secondary information