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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the armed forces serving in the Gulf will be given similarly-based vaccines to those used in the first Gulf War; and if he will cease the use of depleted uranium shells. [108977] Dr. Moonie :[holding answer 14 April 2003]: United Kingdom Service personnel are offered a range of immunisations to protect against disease. These include standard Service immunisations, immunisations for deployment to areas with specific health hazards, immunisations to help protect personnel against the effects of biological weapons, and immunisations for personnel in specific occupational or `at risk' groups. The table shows the complete list of vaccines offered for Operation GRANBY (the 1990-1991 Gulf Conflict) and today. Other immunisations may have been and continue to be offered on the basis of clinical need. We have a duty to provide our troops with the best available equipment with which to protect themselves and succeed in conflict. Depleted Uranium munitions provide a unique anti-armour capability. Therefore, British Forces deployed to the Gulf have DU munitions available as part of their armoury, and we have no plans to cease their use. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Immunisation Position during operation GRANBY Current Position Poliomyelitis Offered to all non-immune personnel. Offered to all non-immune personnel. Administered by mouth. Administered by mouth. Tuberculosis Recruits without a BCG immunisation scar Recruits without a BCG immunisation scare and who were not shown to be immune were and who are not shown to be immune were offered BCG immunisation. offered BCG immunisation. Meningococal meningitis In August 1990, immunisation against Immunisation against meningogoccal meningococcal meningitis strains A and C meningitis offered to those deploying to a was recommended for all personnel serving high risk area, where the length of the in the Gulf. By 15 September 1990, the deployment, or the activities to be immunisation was no longer recommended undertaken place them at risk. except for medical personnel and personnel who may be at risk by way of frequent contact with host nation personnel. Immunisation against meningococal meningitis strains A and C involved one vaccination which was effective against both strains. Typhoid Offered to all personnel. Administered Typhoid vaccine offered to all personnel. with tetanus vaccine as one combined May be combined with Hepatitis A as a immunisation single combined vaccine if both required. No combined typhoid and tetanus preparation now available. Tetanus Offered to all personnel, administered Offered to all personnel. May be with typhoid vaccine as one combined administered with diphtheria vaccine as immunisation one combined immunisation if both are required. Diphtheria Offered to all non-immune personnel Offered to all non-immune personnel. May be administered with tetanus vaccine as one combined immunisation if both required. Hepatitis A Unavailable. Certain occupational groups, Hepatitis A vaccine now available and is such as those handling food and water offered to all regular personnel and supplies, may have been offered a Gamma mobilised reservists. It may be given with Globulin immunisation. MOD is aware of one typhoid as a single combined vaccine if individual who was part of a medical unit both required. that served in Operation GRANBY who is recorded as having received Gamma Globulin Yellow Fever Offered routinely to Servicemen All regular personnel immunised on joining Servicewomen were only to be immunised if the Armed Forces with re-immunisations they were travelling to a region where every 10 years. Reserve personnel are yellow fever was endemic. However, MOD is offered immunisation if mobilised. aware of records for Servicewomen who served with a unit that deployed to the Gulf as routinely receiving yellow fever immunisation Cholera Offered to all personnel deploying Not offered--no longer recommended by World Health Organisation. Plague Offered to all personnel deploying Not offered. Anthrax Offered to all personnel deploying Being rolled out as a routine immunisation for all UK personnel. Pertussis Offered as adjuvant for anthrax vaccine to Not offered all personnel deploying Rabies Not specifically offered to personnel Offered to personnel who work with deploying on Op GRANBY animals, including dog handlers and veterinarians Hepatitis B Offered to medical personnel Offered to medical personnel and those at occupational risk of exposure to blood borne viruses. Rubella Not specifically offered to personnel Offered to non-immune females to enhance deploying Op GRANBY protection and to non-immune health care workers to prevent transmission to patients. Smallpox Routine vaccination of UK Service Being rolled out to a cohort including personnel against smallpox ceased in the Nuclear, Chemical and Biological early 1980s. Therefore some Service specialists and certain medical personnel, personnel who participated in Operation including some who have deployed to the GRANBY could have been vaccinated against Gulf region. smallpox earlier in their careers. MOD is aware of one member of the Armed Forces who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf Conflict who was vaccinated against smallpox in January 1991 by private arrangement. _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

108977; 406 c764-6W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Armed forces Armed conflict Diseases Iraq Iraq-Kuwait conflict Weapons Vaccination Iraq conflict Depleted uranium

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk