The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7218 p470
5 October 2002

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News summary

More TB vaccine available soon

New stocks of tuberculosis (TB) vaccine are currently undergoing testing before they are released for use, the Department of Health has confirmed.

A spokesman for the Department could not confirm exactly when the new vaccine would become available, but said: "Stocks of [the new] BCG vaccine are currently undergoing stringent tests before they can be released. The current unavailability of BCG vaccine is not ideal, but we have to ensure any new vaccine meets United Kingdom safety and effectiveness standards — we do not expect there to be any long-term shortage of BCG."

Once new supplies are released, vaccination of those at highest risk, such as new-borns whose parents are from higher risk communities or who live in higher risk areas, will be prioritised. The schools TB vaccination programme will resume after this.

TB vaccine has been in short supply over the past two months, since Powderject Pharmaceuticals Plc voluntarily withdrew stocks of its BCG vaccine in August after it found that batches did not comply with specifications for potency throughout their shelf lives (PJ, 17 August, p203). The Medicines Control Agency granted a Danish company, Statens Serum Institute (SSI), a licence for its BCG vaccine on 9 September. A two-year contract to supply the Department with BCG vaccine was awarded to both Evans, which was subsequently bought by Powderject, and SSI in October 2000, with the option of extending it for a further two years.