§ 30. Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Health the death rate per million from small-pox, with the percentage of the population vaccinated in all countries for which this information is available during the last known year?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)The information at my disposal does not enable me to answer the question put by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. FREEMANHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the action of the German Federal Medical Council who have recommended the total abolition of compulsory vaccination throughout Germany owing to its failure to prevent small-pox?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think that that arises out of the question.
§ 41. Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for an independent medical examination to be provided for all infants before being compulsorily vaccinated to certify that they are in a fit state to withstand the effects of the operation?
§ Mr. GREENWOODUnder the Vaccination Acts certificates of postponement of vaccination must be given in the case of infants who are not in a fit and proper state to be vaccinated, and the instructions to public vaccinators emphasise that only infants in a fit state of health must be vaccinated. I see no reason, therefore, to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.
§ Mr. FREEMANIn view of the information which the right Ion. Gentleman gave me last week, namely, that more children in this country died last year as a result of vaccination than from small-pox, is it not desirable that an independent medical examination should be given?