HC Deb 02 August 1923 vol 167 cc1754-7W
Mr. BROAD

asked the Minister of Health if he will supply the following information in regard to the vaccination of the general population in the United States, namely, names of states in which there is no compulsion to vaccinate; names of states in which vaccination is compulsory subject to a conscientious objectors' clause; and names of states in which vaccination is compulsory without any exemption?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have no complete information as to the vaccination law throughout the United States, but I am advised, provisionally, that the States in which there is no penalty for neglecting vaccination are Illinois (excluding Chicago), Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, Vermont; that there is exemption on account of conscientious objection to vaccination in California; and that the States in which penalties are imposed for neglecting vaccination include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, District of Columbia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Virginia, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Indiani, Washington, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.

Mr. R. DAVIES

asked the Minister of Health the number of infants born in Liverpool, the number vaccinated, the number exempted, the number dying unvaccinated, and the number unaccounted for in each of the last 20 years for which the figures are available?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

These particulars are not available for the City of

VACCINATION IN THE REGISTRATION DISTRICTS OF LIVERPOOL, TOXTETH PARK, AND WEST DERBY.
Births. Vaccinated. Insusceptible. Had Smallpox. Exempted. Died Postponed. Remaining Unaccounted for.
1902 27,804 22,677 147 4 9 3,080 159 1,728
1903 27,653 22,562 142 1 20 3,081 249 1,598
1904 28,107 22,566 104 22 3,334 239 1,842
1905 28,116 22,950 75 26 2,813 431 1,821
1906 28,079 22,212 71 49 2,992 521 2,234
1907 27,351 21,543 59 171 2,732 541 2,305
1908 27,664 21,606 90 425 2,574 537 2,432
1909 27,295 21,067 112 613 2,514 559 2,430
1910 26,633 20,812 93 717 2,366 650 1,995
1911 26,103 19,952 126 787 2,639 633 1,966
1912 26,144 20,168 67 972 2,225 626 2,086
1913 26,362 19,996 57 1,153 2,399 885 1,872
1914 26,936 20,172 83 1,201 2,560 945 1,975
1915 25,019 18,983 71 1,136 2,153 1,243 1,433
1916 24,215 18,251 94 1,238 2,032 1,313 1,287
1917 21,001 15,947 98 1,156 1,714 1,130 956
1918 20,235 14,929 114 1,122 1,728 1,173 1,169
1919 21,898 15,723 197 1,537 1,691 1,316 434
1920 28,952 20,853 195 1 2,289 2,304 1,520 1,790
1921 25,390 18,283 120 2,175 1,948 1,061 1,803

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE-BRABZON

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the great hardship which will result for working men and women who object to vaccination in the operation of the new Vaccination Order, seeing that in many unions the office of the vaccination officer is situated some miles from the homes of the parents, while mothers with tiny babies will be obliged to travel long distances to get the exemption form, seeing that the fathers will be at work during the vaccination officers' working hours; and whether he can arrange for the exemption forms to be obtained from the registrars as well as from the vaccination officers?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

There appears to be some misapprehension in regard to this matter. The Vaccination Act, 1907, requires that a declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination shall be made in the form set out in the Schedule to the Act, or in a form to the

Liverpool, as they are compiled for registration areas only. The following statement gives the particulars asked for in respect of the registration districts of Liverpool, Toxteth Park, and West Derby, which comprised the City of Liverpool and certain adjacent areas:

like effect. There is nothing in the new Vaccination Order which requires parents to make personal application to the vaccination officer for a form of declaration. The form may be obtained on written application to that officer or the declaration may be made in a form to the like effect without applying to him. In the circumstances, I see no necessity to make further' arrangements for the supply of these forms.

Mr. LEACH

asked the Minister of Health whether chicken-pox is notifiable in Birmingham; and whether he can give the number of cases that occurred there during the months of June and July, and also the number of cases of small-pox notified in the same period?

Lord E. PERCY

I understand that, under the provisions of local Acts in force in Birmingham, the parent or guardian of a child in attendance at school is required to notify the headmaster of the school if chicken-pox occurs in any member of the family. The number of cases of chicken-pox notified under these provisions during the eight weeks ended the 28th July was 623, while three cases of small-pox were notified to the medical officer of health during the same period.