The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7227 p798
7 December 2002

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DoH: Interim Guidelines for Smallpox Response and Management in the Post-Eradication era (more)

Smallpox vaccine for core NHS staff

Some 350 health care workers across the United Kingdom are to be immunised with smallpox vaccine as a precaution against any potential outbreak.

In a written Parliamentary statement last week, Health Minister John Hutton said he expected the chosen staff, who will make up 12 regional smallpox response groups, to be vaccinated by the end of next month. These staff will include public health physicians, microbiologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses, and occupational health staff. There are no plans to vaccinate pharmacists, but a Department spokesman said this could change if regional team directors recommend such a move.

The Government opened consultation on its interim guidance on the management of smallpox outbreaks last week. The guidance can be viewed here.