§ Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department is receiving information regarding illness amongst the troops in Great Britain, Ireland, and the Channel Islands; whether he has been informed of the high percentage of men who have suffered from the effects of vaccination for small-pox and also from inoculation for typhoid fever; whether he is aware that in some instances inoculation against tetanus has caused high fever and general malaise; and whether, in view of the imperative necessity for the maintenance of the troops in good health, he will order medical officers to stop vaccinating and inoculating the men?
§ Mr. StanleyThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The percentage of men who require treatment in hospital as a result of vaccination for small-pox is not high—some 3 to 4 per cent. These effects invariably occur amongst men who have not been vaccinated in infancy. With regard to inoculation against typhoid, a small proportion show reactions; for this reason, men are excused all duties for 48 hours following inoculation. Experience has shown that reactions following inoculation against tetanus are non-existent or negligible. These procedures, compulsory in other European armies, are designed to afford individual protection to the soldier and to prevent epidemic disease in the Army, and so to conserve man-power.
Except that a man is not accepted for a normal engagement in the Regular Army unless he consents to be vaccinated, all vaccination and inoculation is voluntary.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Secretary of State for War the nature of the information he 984W has received regarding the serious results of vaccination amongst recruits in Great Britain or Ireland?
§ Mr. StanleyThe information at my disposal shows that from 3 to 4 per cent. of soldiers require brief hospital treatment following vaccination. It is further reported that the more severe reactions occur amongst those who have not been vaccinated in infancy, but serious results are exceptional.