Health workers to be vaccinated against smallpox
Small teams of health care workers are to be vaccinated against smallpox as a precaution against any potential outbreak
in the UK. In addition a small number of specialist military personnel will be vaccinated.
In a written Parliamentary statement, Health Minister John Hutton said:
"Since the tragic events of September 11th, the Department of Health has strengthened its plans against any deliberate
release of biological agents, including smallpox.
"We have no evidence of a specific threat of a smallpox attack on the UK. However, it is sensible and prudent to ensure
that the NHS can deal effectively with any potential threat.
"There are three components to the Department's preparation for response to a possible smallpox emergency: improved
vaccine stocks, a plan of action and a cohort of immunised staff who could deal safely with any potential smallpox
cases.
"We have already taken action to substantially increase our stocks of smallpox vaccine and we have recently begun a
second procurement to add to these stocks.
"The Department of Health is today publishing an interim plan of action for discussion and comment over the coming
month. Under this plan, it is intended to establish 12 Regional Smallpox Response Groups around the UK.
"They will consist of Infectious disease physicians and paediatricians, public health physicians,
microbiologists/virologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses and occupational health staff.
"This core group of NHS staff will need to be immune to smallpox and therefore able to react quickly and work safely
with patients with actual or suspected smallpox. Preparations for the vaccination of these key workers is now underway.
I expect these vaccinations to be completed by the end of next month. It is intended to vaccinate around 350 health care
staff across the UK.
"This will be on an entirely voluntary basis with informed consent. The Ministry of Defence, with whom we are working
closely, is planning to vaccinate a similar cohort of specialist military personnel.
Other useful information:
Register for e-mail updates - choose Health and Lifestyle
Categories:
Health and Lifestyle
Newsroom:
Agreement on NHS pay reform
(28 November 2002)
Plans for child-safe medicine packaging
(26 November 2002)
Immigration rules to protect abused
(26 November 2002)
New powers for pharmacists and nurses to prescribe
(21 November 2002)
New drive to stamp out smoking
(20 November 2002)
Continuing to invest and reform public services
(13 November 2002)
Report on surgical deaths welcomed
(12 November 2002)
Change to aspirin advice
(23 October 2002)
Useful websites
Department of Health
"The Plan also explains how smallpox cases would be handled in various scenarios. The Department of Health's primary
strategy would be to contain and 'ring vaccinate' around any outbreak. The teams of vaccinated health care staff are
central to delivering this strategy.
"These plans are a practical precaution designed to ensure the UK is prepared for any possible smallpox emergency. They
are in line with World Health Organisation advice and will be kept under active review.
"Similar interim plans are being prepared for publication by the Devolved Administrations.
"This work has been taken forward under the cross-Governmental Civil Contingency machinery for which the Home Secretary
has overall responsibility."
In a separate announcement the MoD says it will offer vaccination against smallpox to a small number of specialist
military personnel.
In a Written Ministerial Statement, Defence Minister, Dr Lewis Moonie, said:
"We have decided to offer vaccination against smallpox to a small number of specialist military personnel whose
specialisation means they face a greater risk of exposure to smallpox. This will include those nuclear biological
chemical specialists and specialist medical personnel who would form the spearhead of our defensive response, including
vaccination teams, in the event of a confirmed, suspected or threatened release of smallpox."
The MoD continually reviews the package of defensive measures available to the Armed Forces to protect them against
chemical and biological attack. The current assessment is that there is no immediate threat to our Armed Forces from
smallpox. However, the consequences of any smallpox release could be very serious, so the MoD continues to monitor the
threat closely and take sensible precautions.
Extra info...
The Smallpox Plan - Interim guidelines for Smallpox Response and Management in the Post-Eradication era - has been
published on the Department of Health website. The Plan outlines the strategies and approaches that would guide national
and local responses to a smallpox emergency.