HC Deb 30 April 1931 vol 251 c1799
33. Mr. FREEMAN

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now state the number of children compulsorily vaccinated and the number for whom exemption was claimed; and the number of deaths of children from small-pox and the number of deaths of children associated with vaccination during 1930?

Mr. GREENWOOD

As the answer is long and involves a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. FREEMAN

When is the right hon. Gentleman going into the whole question of the administration of the Vaccination Acts, as he said he was doing a year ago?

Mr. GREENWOOD

I am still going into it.

Mr. FREEMAN

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to take any action in the matter, in view of his inquiries?

Mr. GREENWOOD

That I must ask the hon. Member to put down on a later occasion.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman add the number of children whose lives are saved owing to vaccination?

Following is the answer:

During the year 1930, 280,075 certificates of successful primary vaccination of children under 14 years of age, and 293,176 statutory declarations of conscientious objection, were received by vaccination officers in England and Wales. These figures are exclusive of a few returns which have not yet been received. During the same period, among children under 14 years of age, 13 deaths occurred which were classified to smallpox, and three deaths in which the words "vaccination," "vaccinia" or "post-vaccinal encephalitis "appeared in the medical or coroner's certificate. One other death associated with vaccination has been brought to the notice of my Department.