Written question asked by Ian Stewart (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 October 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 November 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 November 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doses of polio vaccine which breached the 1989 guidelines banning UK-sourced bovine materials have been administered since 1989; for what reason the use of the Medeva polio vaccine was not suspended in June; and how many doses of Medeva polio vaccine have now been recalled; if Medeva has been able to establish that the batch of polio vaccine manufactured using UK bovine serum was BSE-free; what penalties the polio vaccine manufacturer Medeva has incurred for being in breach of UK and European guidelines. - Inc fact that when report of CMO is available, I will respond to specific points raised.

Answer: Mr. Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many doses of polio vaccine which breached the 1989 guidelines banning UK-sourced bovine materials have been administered since 1989; for what reason the use of the Medeva polio vaccine was not suspended in June; and how many doses of Medeva polio vaccine have now been recalled; [135759] (2) if Medeva has been able to establish that the batch of polio vaccine manufactured using UK bovine serum was BSE-free; [135761] (3) what penalties the polio vaccine manufacturer Medeva has incurred for being in breach of UK and European guidelines. [135760] Yvette Cooper: I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to review all the advice given to Ministers on vaccines in relation to public health and vCJD. This review will include the circumstances leading to the withdrawal of the Medeva manufactured oral polio vaccine and advice to Ministers on withdrawal or recall of vaccines more generally. When the report of the CMO is available, I will respond to the specific points raised.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 357 c629W;357 c628W; 135759;135761;135760
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Codes of practice Companies Animal products Contamination Drugs Standards Vaccination BSE Polio Medeva Pharma
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk