Mr. Robathan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received of (a) the safety of and (b) serious adverse reactions to the human papillomavirus vaccine; and if he will make a statement. [314586]
Gillian Merron:As of 27 January 2010, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had received 3,402 suspected adverse reaction (ADR) reports for both human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) including 657 serious suspected ADR reports. The MHRA publishes regular weekly summaries of UK safety data on Cervarix, the vaccine in routine use in the United Kingdom, on its website at:
MHRA takes into consideration European and worldwide safety data when assessing the safety of HPV vaccine in the UK. To date, the vast majority of suspected adverse reactions reported to MHRA in association with Cervarix HPV vaccine have related either to the signs and symptoms of recognised side effects listed in the product information or were due to the injection process and not the vaccine itself. For the isolated cases of other medical conditions reported, the available evidence does not suggest that the vaccine caused the condition
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and these may have been coincidental events. More than 3.5 million doses of Cervarix vaccine have been given across the UK since September 2008. The Government's independent expert advisory committee, the Commission on Human Medicines, has advised that the balance of risks and benefits of Cervarix remains positive. It is anticipated that HPV vaccine will eventually save up to 400 lives a year. As with any vaccine, the MHRA will continue to closely monitor the safety of Cervarix vaccine.
The latest vaccine safety summary reports published by the MHRA have been placed in the Library. These are entitled: 'Suspected Adverse Reaction Analysis Cervarix Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine' and 'Suspected Adverse Reaction Analysis Cervarix Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (brand unspecified)'.
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100201/text/100201w0011.htm
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