HC Deb 06 March 1956 vol 549 cc1908-10
24. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the disquiet in Scotland about the new anti-poliomyelitis vaccine recently recommended there by the Department of Health for Scotland; and if he will now make a full statement upon it, indicating its nature, the tests to which it has been subjected, and their results.

37. Mrs. Mann

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the doubts of parents regarding new vaccine for poliomyelitis, arising out of the fear that the virulent strain of the polio germ, which caused disaster in the United States of America, may still be present; and if he will take steps to reassure parents regarding this new vaccine.

Mr. J. Stuart

The particular virus strain to which the hon. Lady refers is not used in making the British vaccine. The nature of this vaccine and the tests applied to it were described in reply to the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Peter Freeman) on 30th January, and parents can have every confidence in its safety. A memorandum with technical particulars is in course of issue to doctors throughout the country to assist them in advising any parents who may still be in doubt.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does not the Secretary of State agree that when a new vaccine of this kind is recommended there rests a heavy burden on the Department of Health to satisfy the doctors and the public that it is a good vaccine and not dangerous? As the right hon. Gentleman has not answered the part of my Question dealing with public disquiet on this head in Scotland, will he please do so?

Mr. Stuart

I am not aware of growing public disquiet, because no authority is known to have decided against the vaccination scheme which it is proposed to carry out. I think that every precaution has been taken.

Mr. Woodburn

In view of the campaign which the Press seems to be running against recommendations of the Department, would it not have been wise to have taken medical officers of health into consultation and made them aware of what was to happen?

Mr. Stuart

Actually, the medical officers are well aware. I am sorry if there was any mistake made, though I do not think there has been, and I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for suggestion that this is—as I think he more or less indicated—in the nature of a scare.

Mrs. Mann

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a feeling of apprehension in the minds of a great many parents in view of what happened with the Salk vaccine experiments in the U.S.A.? As at the moment there are so many advertisements in every newspaper urging parents to come forward, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a word of reassurance to parents put into these advertisements might have been very valuable?

Mr. Stuart

I can assure the hon. Lady that I do not think there is the slightest danger of accidents such as the one to which she referred.

Mrs. Mann

I have not any children now to have vaccinated. It is parents with young children who should be assured.

Mr. Ross

As one of the parents concerned, and as one who has already agreed that his children should be vaccinated, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can give us any figures about how the matter is going and what response he is getting from local authorities, and about parents who are refusing to allow their children to be vaccinated?

Mr. Stuart

If the hon. Member will put down a Question, I will see whether I can give him any information.