CMO calls for tighter safety standards for vaccines

In a report on the withdrawal, two years ago, of polio vaccine found to be still using beef products the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, criticised the Medicines Control Agency (CMO) for allowing 35mn vaccine doses to be produced and distributed during 10 years when it contravened guidelines, and its delay in alerting ministers. Although the report says that the risk of contracting vCJD therefrom is “incalculably small”, the CMO called for a general tightening of vaccine safety standards.