§ 26. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the large-scale production, which has started in Great Britain, of a measles vaccine.
§ Mr. PowellI have just received an application for a licence to manufacture such a vaccine.
§ Sir B. JannerAs the Minister knows, there is an epidemic of measles, with over 200,000 cases this year. In the week ending 4th May, Leicester had 86 new cases, and there were 78 in the week ending 11th May. If this is an effective drug, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that it is made readily usable and available to people?
§ Mr. PowellThis is a matter on which I am guided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The latest advice from that Committee is that it is not satisfied that measles vaccine should be recommended for general use at present.
§ Sir B. JannerIs the Minister sufficiently interested to investigate the results of the use of this vaccine in the United States; and will he see from that that it is important we should use it here, if at all possible?
§ Mr. PowellThe latest information on these vaccines is taken into account by the expert committee which advises me.