HC Deb 01 February 1951 vol 483 c1054
16. Sir Herbert Williams

asked the Minister of Health in what year the practice of immunisation against diphtheria became general; and how the notifications and deaths in the previous year compare with the latest year for which the statistics are available.

Mr. Marquand

The diphtheria immunisation scheme sponsored by my Department began in 1941. Notifications and deaths in 1940 numbered respectively 46,281 and 2,480. In 1949 they were 1,881 and 84.

Sir H. Williams

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to send a copy of his answer to the various anti-vaccination and anti-vivisection societies?