§ 19. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for War what steps can soldiers, who object to vaccination, take to avoid being vaccinated; and whether he will ensure that this procedure is made known to all soldiers before they are vaccinated?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaA soldier can refuse to be vaccinated. The fact that vaccination is voluntary is made known in orders and regulations dealing with the matter.
§ 23. Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for War whether the soldier who died recently from post-vaccinal encephalitis after recent vaccination at Leeds was vaccinated with Government lymph; whether any rabbits had been used in the manufacture of the lymph in question; and what steps are his Department taking to prevent the occurrence of such cases so far as the manufacture of lymph is concerned?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe soldier in question was vaccinated with Government lymph, that is calf lymph, and this is the only lymph which is employed to vaccinate soldiers. Rabbits may occasionally be used at an earlier stage in the process of the production of the lymph, but there is no evidence that post-vaccinal encephalitis is attributable to this. Everything is done, in accordance with the standards of the Therapeutic Substances Act, to ensure that the lymph is safe.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaIf death is attributable to military causes, naturally they will receive compensation.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI cannot say, because I do not know the facts. I am answering a question about lymph, and if the hon. Gentleman wants to know about the pension in this particular case, I will willingly give him an answer after looking up that point.