UK may make vaccines

There are concerns over Britain's access to vaccines and drugs

The government is considering manufacturing its own vaccines to protect the public against deadly diseases like anthrax.

The move follows fears that the UK may not be able to secure enough supplies in the event of a biological or chemical attack.

Ministers are also considering producing emergency supplies of other vaccines to protect against diseases like tuberculosis, meningitis and influenza.

The proposals are being discussed with the UK's Health Protection Agency.

Key vaccines

If given the go-ahead, the vaccines would be produced by the HPA's Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down in Salisbury.

The centre was responsible for developing and manufacturing influenza vaccines following the Hong Kong avian flu epidemic in 1997.

We need to improve our supply of vaccines Lord Soulsby Epidemics could cripple the NHS

It also produced tens of thousands of doses of anthrax vaccine after the anthrax attacks in the United States in 2001.

This vaccine was recently offered to troops involved in the war against Iraq.

Ministers recently rejected proposals to allow the centre to manufacture vaccines on the grounds of cost.

However, they are coming under pressure to reverse that decision and the Department of Health has confirmed that the proposal is now back on the discussion table.

The United States government set up its own vaccine institute three years ago.

It is run by the National Institutes of Health and carries out research, clinical trials and produces vaccines.

It is attempting to develop and manufacture a vaccine for the deadly Sars virus.

Supply concerns

A report by the House of Lords science and technology committee has urged the government to consider setting up a similar institute in the UK.

It said the move could help to ensure Britain had guaranteed access to key vaccines in the event of a major epidemic or biological attack.

We are working with the HPA to assess the needs in this area Department of Health spokesman

It warned that, at the moment, the government cannot guarantee the supply of vaccines.

Very few vaccines are currently manufactured in the UK and most vaccines used in this country are imported from France and Belgium.

Lord Soulsby, chairman of the committee, said: "If there was a serious threat, it is possible that we would have to go to other countries and ask for their help.

"If there was a major pandemic in the world many countries would be in difficulty.

"Individual countries would want to meet their own needs first before supplying us.

"We need to improve our supply of vaccines and our system of accruing vaccines."

He also warned against depending on the pharmaceutical industry to supply vaccines.

Many pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to manufacture vaccines because of low-profit margins.

Many also consider it to be a risky business. The chances of litigation are much higher with vaccines compared to other drugs, not least because they are given to greater numbers of people.

Under discussion

Dr Pat Troop, chief executive, Health Protection Agency, said it already had procedures in place to manufacture some vaccines in the event of an emergency.

She confirmed that the agency is also in talks with the government on setting up a production facility at Porton Down.

"The agency has a significant research programme, with a particular emphasis on vaccines.

"We have programmes on early development of vaccines for meningitis and TB, and are discussing with the Department of Health a revised business case for a rapid vaccine production facility at HPA Porton Down for use in an emergency."

The Department of Health said ministers are considering the proposal.

"We are working with the HPA to assess the needs in this area," said a spokesman.

The government has stockpiled some key drugs in case of a bio terrorist attack. However, many of these have been purchased from private suppliers.

These include 30m doses of smallpox vaccine and antibiotics to treat people infected with anthrax, plague or tularaemia, which are all potentially fatal.