§ 20. Mr. Smallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the drop in the percentage of children now being immunised against disease and illness as a protection for their future.
§ Mr. Harry EwingI am disappointed by the drop in vaccination and immunisation rates during the last two or three years. My Department recognises that immunisation is one of the main weapons in the fight against diphtheria, polio, measles and whooping cough, and in co-operation with the health boards has started a campaign to stimulate interest in the benefits of having children immunised.
§ Mr. SmallIn the light of that reply, will my hon. Friend give me the figures of those children who are not protected by means of immunisation?
§ Mr. EwingYes, Sir. Perhaps it is convenient to point out that the situation with which we are faced applies to 73,000 children born in Scotland in 1973. By the end of 1975, 20,000 had not been immunised against diphtheria, 21,000 had not been immunised against polio, 34,000 had not been immunised against measles, and 24,000 had not been immunised against whooping cough.
§ Mr. CorrieDoes the Minister agree that there has been some bad publicity about the side effects of some injections when given to children?
§ Mr. EwingYes, Sir. I agree that there was some bad publicity about the side effects of various vaccines, but the advice I give to parents is that if they are in doubt they should seek the advice of their family doctor.