Letter: TB jab lottery

TB jab lottery

Sir: Jack O'Sullivan highlights the concern about tuberculosis (TB) again becoming a significant threat to public health ("The crime of contagion", 24 February).

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Liam Donaldson, in his review of infectious disease control, must look at the prevention of TB as well as measures to contain any contagion. Some health authorities have stopped providing TB inoculations in schools because of budget constraints.

Confining people to prevent them infecting others is expensive and not foolproof. TB inoculations are cost-effective and potentially life-saving. Can the NHS think about the long-term public health requirements from a national perspective rather than leave the possibility of school children getting such an important inoculation to the chance of what their postcode happens to be.

The Rev MIKE WILLIAMS

Chief Executive

Radcliffe Infirmary NHS Trust

Oxford