Written question asked by Lord Bellingham (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 July 2002. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 July 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the smallpox vaccine ordered from Powderject will need to be trialled before it can be used.

Answer: Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the smallpox vaccine ordered from Powderject will need to be trialled before it can be used. [67546] Mr. Hutton: No, the vaccine can be used without clinical trials. There are currently no plans to undertake clinical trials of the smallpox vaccine in the UK. Since smallpox does not currently exist in the population, trials of protective efficacy are not possible. The EU committee for proprietary medicinal products is currently developing the requirements for the manufacture of second generation smallpox vaccine, which will include guidance on the design of any clinical trials.

Secondary information