§ 25. Dr. WATTSasked the Minister of Health the number of children who attained the age of 12 months during the year 1926; the number of those in respect of whom the parents furnished a certificate of successful vaccination or a certificate of conscientious objection; the number of those whose parents did neither; and the number of prosecutions?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWith my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT such particulars as are available.
§ Following are the particulars:
§ Accurate information is not available as to the number of children who attained the age of 12 months during 1926. The total number of births registered in England and Wales during 1925 was 710,582, but the vaccination returns in regard to the children born in that year are not yet quite complete. The returns at present to hand relate to a total of 708,500 children, and of these 37,728 died unvaccinated. Certificates of successful vaccination were furnished in respect of 313,450 children, and declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination in respect of 291,347 children. As regards the remaining 65,975 children, no such certificates or declarations were furnished. I have no information as to the number of prosecutions.