§ Mr. J. BECKETTasked the Minister of Health if he will supply a Return showing the percentage of births, vaccinated and exempted from vaccination, in the Borough of Chesterfield for each year during the past 15 years?
§ Sir K. WOODI am in communication with the guardians of the Chesterfield Union, and will supply the hon. Member with such information as they are able to furnish in this matter.
§ Mr. BROMFIELDasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulties which exist in regard to the diagnosis of mild small-pox and chicken-pox, he will give instructions, in cases where chicken-pox is made a notifiable disease, for the condition of the patients as regards vaccination to be stated on the form of notification, with a view to statistical records being inserted in the annual reports of the medical officers of health showing the total number of vaccination and unvaccinated chicken-pox cases notified in each year?
§ Sir K. WOODThe answer is in the negative. My right hon. Friend is advised that a mere statement on the notification form as to the vaccinal condition of such patients would not be of any material assistance in arriving at an accurate diagnosis, and as it has never been suggested that vaccination affords any protection against chicken-pox, he does not consider that statistical records as to the vaccinal condition of patients suffering from that disease would be of value.