§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has completed his study of the Peckham report on immunisation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanYes. Many of the recommendations made in the Peckham report were appropriate for immunisation services at local level, and they have the support of the Department of Health. Other recommendations relate to the national level, and the Health Education Authority and the Department are launching a national publicity campaign this autumn, which will be supported by new materials on immunisation to be sent to GPs and nurses involved in immunisation.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the recommendations of the working party set up by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation in connection with advising on the immunisation schedule; and whether he proposes that the schedule should apply nationally and uniformly.
§ Mr. FreemanThe joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, having considered the recent progress in immunisation uptake and factors which could hinder further improvements, has recommended that an accelerated schedule of primary immunisations (at age two, three and four months) should be implemented consistently in all district health authorities. Full details of this new schedule have already been sent to district immunisation co-ordinators and will be sent shortly to all doctors and nurses involved in immunisation, together with the most recent advice from the JCVI.