HC Deb 05 November 1940 vol 365 cc1174-5
6. Dr. A. V. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give the results of the new inoculation introduced into the Army for the prevention of tetanus, and the use of the "T.A.B." vaccine in protecting the soldier from typhoid-paratyphoid infection; what proportion of the Army has accepted inoculation; whether the British Army is the only one in which immunisation against typhoid is not universal; and how much, on the basis of recent experience, the chance of a soldier's contracting typhoid or paratyphoid is increased by refusing protection?

Mr. Law

In no case has tetanus been reported in wounded soldiers who had received protective inoculation. All the cases reported have occurred in non-immunized men. With regard to the "T.A.B." inoculation, the reported incidence of proved infections of typhoid and paratyphoid fevers in the whole of the British Expeditionary Force and the Home Forces, from the outbreak of war to the present time, has been 32 cases, 26 of which have never received "T.A.B." vaccine. About 80 per cent. of the Army accepted inoculation. In no other Army is typhoid immunisation not universal. On the basis of the figures I have given, the chance of contracting typhoid or paratyphoid fever is increased roughly 17 times by refusing inoculation.

Dr. Hill

May I ask whether the odds in favour of men protected against typhoid are not really much greater than 17 to one, owing to the fact that those few of them who do contract the disease usually have it in a much lighter form?

Mr. Leach

Is not the real cause of the improvement in the health of the Forces in this connection due exclusively to better sanitation and increased cleanliness?

Mr. Law

That may be so, but these considerations apply equally to those who have been inoculated and to those who have not. The incidence is much better among those who have been inoculated.

Dr. Hill

In view of the satisfactory result of inoculation and the fact that over 20 per cent. of the men are not inoculated, would it not be in the national interest to protect our soldiers, not only from disease, but from the subversive propaganda directed to persuading them not to accept inoculation?