This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Smallpox vaccination for health workers
06/12/2002
Small teams of healthcare workers are to be vaccinated
against smallpox in Scotland - as elsewhere in the UK - as
a precaution against any potential outbreak.
Responding to a question in the Scottish Parliament
today, Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the
Scottish Executive has been working with UK Government and
relevant national and local bodies to strengthen plans
against any deliberate release of biological agents,
including smallpox.
"We have no evidence of a specific threat of a smallpox
attack on Scotland, or any other part of the UK. However,
it is sensible and prudent to ensure that NHSScotland can
deal effectively with any potential threat.
"There are three components to the Executive'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.
"Working with the UK Government, we have already taken
action to substantially increase stocks of smallpox
vaccine.
"The Executive is today publishing an interim plan of
action for discussion and comment over the coming month.
Under this plan, it is intended to establish three Smallpox
Diagnosis and Response Groups on a regional basis around
Scotland.
"They will consist typically of an infectious diseases
physician and paediatrician, a public health physician, a
microbiologist/ virologist, a public health/infection
control Nurse, and clinical nurse with experience in acute
emergency medicine.
"This core group of perhaps 50 NHS staff in Scotland
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 are now underway.
"This will be on an entirely voluntary basis with
informed consent. As such, while we are determined to
implement these arrangements as quickly as possible, the
precise numbers of healthcare workers to be vaccinated, and
the timetable for vaccination, depends significantly upon
the comments we expect following publication of the interim
plan.
"The interim plan also explains how smallpox cases would
be handled in various scenarios. The Executive'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 that Scotland is prepared for any possible smallpox
emergency. They are in line with World Health Organisation
advice and will be kept under active review."