§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will have discussions with the appropriate bodies concerning inclusion of advice concerning polio vaccination in advertisements for travel to those countries for which vaccination is desirable.
§ Mr. MoyleMy Department keeps in touch with the Association of British Travel Agents, with air lines and with other bodies in the travel industry, and provides them with literature and other advice on health protection for dissemination to travellers going abroad. This includes, where appropriate, the desirability of polio vaccination.
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§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has consulted other Common Market countries concerning their policy on whooping-cough vaccination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ennals, pursuant to his reply [Official Report 19th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 251–3], gave the following information:
My Department has been in contact with other countries, including members of the EEC, concerning their policies on whooping-cough vaccination, and I understand that in seven of the nine EEC countries routine vaccination of infants against whopping cough is officially recommended. In Italy there is no official recommendation on the subject and in West Germany it is recommended only to vaccinate in the first year, and then only if the infant is at special risk. I understand also that in both Italy and West Germany doctors are at liberty to vaccinate against whooping cough.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation took these policies into account in formulating its own recommendations.