HC Deb 21 March 1955 vol 538 c156W
Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Health the estimated percentage of children in the age-classes under one year, one to four years, five to nine years, and 10 to 14 years, respectively, who have been immunised against diphtheria in each of the years from 1940 for which the figures are available.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Information in the form requested is not available; but the following are the percentages of children in various age groups at 31st December, 1953, who had received a complete course of immunisation during the preceding five years:

  • Under 1 year, 8.2*.
  • 1 to 4 years, 61.6.
  • 5 to 14 years, 46.0.
* Since immunisation is not normally undertaken until children reach 8 months of age, the maximum percentage would be 33⅓ per cent.

Similar information for years prior to 1953 is not available.

Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Health the ages of children notified as suffering from diphtheria and recorded as dying from that disease in each of the years 1940 to 1953.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The numbers of notifications and of deaths in different age groups under 15 years were as follows. Ages for cases notified prior to 1944 are not available.