Previous Section Index Home Page

13 May 2004 : Column 593W—continued

Sexual Health/HIV

Mr. Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV; and what assessment he has made of its impact on the sexual health of young people in the UK. [172575]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The national strategy for sexual health and HIV, which is closely linked to the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy, identifies young people as a priority group for action to improve sexual health. The Government's 'Sex Lottery' and teenage pregnancy media campaigns are raising awareness among young people of sexually transmitted
 
13 May 2004 : Column 594W
 
infections (STIs), and how to avoid them. We are also tackling the most common STI through our national chlamydia screening programme, which already covers a quarter of primary care trusts in England, and is being rolled-out across the rest of the country.

Vaccinations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on ensuring that there is an adequate provision of serum for children whose parents opt for individual inoculations rather than the combined MMR. [171743]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department does not supply single vaccines. It provides the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because it provides the most effective protection against three potentially serious diseases. The availability of single vaccines is an issue for the private clinics who offer them.