House of Lords written question – answered at on 11 November 2014.
Lord Moonie
Labour
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are reassessing the United Kingdom's capability in vaccine development and production with a view to reducing the time taken to produce new vaccines for use against emerging diseases.
Earl Howe
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
We are not currently reassessing the United Kingdom’s capability in vaccine development and production, which is primarily a matter for the pharmaceutical industry.
However, our horizon-scanning and surveillance for emerging infectious diseases and the development of arrangements for emergency preparedness and response will include collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry when the use of a vaccine may be a potential control measure.
One example of this work is the current efforts to accelerate clinical trials for an Ebola vaccine, working closely with other Governments, vaccine regulators, industry and the World Health Organization.
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