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 Wednesday, 24 May 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 May 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice parents are given about the side-effects of the Meningitis C vaccine; whether the vaccine carries a risk of brain-damage or death; and whether all risks are made clear before parental consent is requested. - (Holding answer 19 May 2000).

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice parents are given about the side-effects of the Meningitis C vaccine; whether the vaccine carries a risk of brain-damage or death; and whether all risks are made clear before parental consent is requested. [122913] Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 19 May 2000]: A leaflet for parents--"Meningitis C. Reduce the risk. Your guide to the new meningitis C vaccine"--provides information on the possible side effects of the meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine. The consent form for the meningococcal Group C immunisation tells parents to "Make sure you have read and understood the leaflet". It goes on to advise "Before you fill in the rest of the form, please make sure you have read this leaflet carefully" and then explicitly draws attention to "the possible side effects of the immunisation (read page 6)". Brain damage and death are not recognised risks. About 26 million copies of the parents' leaflet have been printed and it has been mailed to general practitioners' surgeries, pharmacies and schools for every parent to receive and also made widely available though high street pharmacies and post offices. Copies of the leaflet and the consent form are available in the Library.

Secondary information