HC Deb 25 October 1946 vol 428 cc37-8W
Mr. Braddock

asked the Minister of Health whether he has information regarding the number of immunised children who contracted diphtheria; and the number who died of that disease in the second half of 1945.

Mr. Bevan

As the particulars concerned are derived from Local Authority returns now made annually I can only give figures for the whole of the year 1945. The returns received from all but a few authorities show that in England and Wales there were 4,410 notified diphtheria cases and 33 deaths from diphtheria among immunised children under 15, as compared with 8,780 notifications and 558 deaths among children not immunised.