§ 23. Mr. MOSESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how long it has been the practice to carry out quinquennial revaccination, as necessary of all personnel in the Navy; whether such revaccinations are compulsory; and whether he proposes to make any changes in the Navy regulations relating to the vaccination of naval recruits and dockyard apprentices under the age of 19 years who have not previously been vaccinated, in view of recent cases among the civil population of post-vaccinal encephalitis?
Mr. ALEXANDERIt has been the practice to carry out quinquennial revaccination of personnel of the Royal Navy, when going abroad, for many years. An order was issued on the 7th September, 1928, that revaccination of active service personnel should be carried out every five years (Admiralty Fleet Order 2216/28). No punishment or penalty is incurred for declining revaccination on conscientious or other grounds, but precautions are taken to prevent men not revaccinated from becoming a danger to the Service by landing in ports where there is danger of contracting smallpox (King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions 1417, 12). It is not proposed at present to make any changes in the Navy regulations relating to the vaccination of Naval recruits, in view of the fact that these young men are likely to be exposed to the danger of infection by the severe Oriental type of smallpox as soon as they 1028 go to sea. The regulations relating to the vaccination of dockyard apprentices are under consideration.
§ Sir G. PENNYHow many of these men have objected to being revaccinated?