HC Deb 25 March 1985 vol 76 cc11-2
12. Mr. Grist

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage rate of inoculation and vaccination of children for measles, whooping cough, and polio in the last two years for which figures are available.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The percentages of children in Wales vaccinated by their second birthday against measles, whooping cough and poliomyelitis in 1982 were 40 per cent., 33 per cent. and 81 per cent., respectively. In 1983—the latest year for which figures are available—the comparable percentages were 44 per cent., 42 per cent. and 82 per cent.

Mr. Grist

Does my hon. Friend agree that the take-up of vaccination for measles and whooping cough is alarmingly low, not least in view of the fact that measles is a disease that can be eliminated, as was smallpox? Does he further agree that people are laying themselves and their children wide open to severe suffering, and possibly death? What steps is my hon. Friend's Department taking to popularise and spread the take-up of these vaccinations?

Mr. Roberts

My hon. Friend is correct. There are good take-up rates for poliomyelitis, diptheria and tetanus vaccinations, but they need to be proved still further. Uptake rates for other vaccinations, including measles and whooping cough, are far from satisfactory. We intend to continue to improve the way in which we put the case for immunisation against those diseases.

Dr. Roger Thomas

The vast majority of the states in America are now totally measles-free. When can we look forward to a Wales that is totally measles-free? What percentage of children receiving the diptheria vaccination also receive the whooping cough vaccination, and what percentage do not receive the whooping cough vaccination?

Mr. Roberts

The hon. Gentleman is well aware that the uptake of the measles vaccination in Wales has not been all that good. Similarly, the uptake of whooping cough vaccination is nothing like as good as that of polio vaccination. That is presumably because of the adverse reactions that are remotely possible with those vaccinations. However, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that the measles vaccination rate in Wales since 1978 has improved by 17 percentage points. We launched a major drive last year aimed at increasing the uptake among pre-school and primary school children and achieving a 90 per cent. uptake among children in the second year of life by 1990, with the eventual aim of eliminating the disease.