§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on Professor Gordon Stewart's report on whooping cough and whooping cough vaccination.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Department commissioned a report by Professor Stewart on the work he has undertaken into adverse reactions to whooping cough vaccine. The report subsequently submitted covered not only adverse reactions to the vaccine but also the efficacy of whooping cough vaccine; the risks from the disease itself; a comparison of the risks from whooping cough with those from the vaccine; and the implications of his conclusions for current Departmental policy. In view of its contents we referred the report to two medical advisory committees: the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. These committees, chaired by Professor Goldberg and Sir John Badenoch respectively, consist of eminent doctors and scientists expert in the fields of drug safety and immunisation. The CSM, which advises on the safety, quality and efficacy of drugs and vaccines, has commented
The CSM have studied Professor Stewart's report in detail. Nothing in the report has altered the Committee's current view of the safety of whooping cough vaccine.The JCVI, which advises on all aspects of immunisation policy, has said:
244WThe JCVI noted the comments of the CSM and have also given careful consideration to the report and find that it does not contain any significant new evidence to support a change in the JCVI recommendations. The JCVI does not accept the estimates of risk calculated by Professor Stewart for whooping cough vaccination or for the disease of whooping cough. The Joint Committee remain firmly convinced that the benefits of whooping cough vaccination far outweigh the risks and that, with due attention to the contra-indications, whooping cough vaccination should continue to be recommended as part of the basic course of childhood immunisation.In the light of these comments we believe there is no reason for the Department to change its present view, and its advice to parents and doctors, that whooping cough vaccination should be offered to children, provided that there is no contra-indication.
The Department has written to Professor Stewart advising him of the CSM and JCVI views. Professor Stewart has been advised that he is free to arrange publication of the report but in doing so should not imply that the Department supports the conclusions or recommendations made in it.