Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 16 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 June 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 19 June 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence his Department has evaluated on a causal link between routine vaccination and brain-damage. - (Holding answer 19 May 2000).

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence his Department has evaluated on a causal link between routine vaccination and brain-damage. [122911] Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 19 May 2000]: The Medicines Control Agency and Committee on Safety of Medicines continuously monitor the safety, quality and efficacy of all medicines including vaccines. For vaccinations, the independent expert advisory committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also considers issues relating to vaccination policy, including safety and efficacy. The evidence evaluated includes data from spontaneous reports from the yellow card scheme, the published medical literature, pre- and post-marketing clinical trials and epidemiological studies. Evidence does not support a causal association between any of the recommended childhood vaccines and long-term damage other than the risk of vaccine-- associated paralytic polio which occurs in one out of approximately every million immunisations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 122911; 352 c48W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Disability Children Health hazards Safety Vaccination Side effects Polio
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk