§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on current NHS immunisation facilities for children; and what were the comparable facilities for 1978.
§ Mr. DorrellNHS facilities for childhood immunisation are provided in child health clinics and by general practitioners. It is for health authorities to decide how best those facilities should be provided. Since GPs were first invited to participate (in the mid-1970s) they have taken an increasing part in the immunisation programme. We introduced the target payment scheme from April 1990 to encourage them further in this activity.
Information on the rates of immunisation is shown in the table.
63W
Percentage of children immunised (England) 1978 11991 Diptheria and Polio 78 92 Measles 48 290 Whooping Cough 31 87
1 The latest available estimates for August. 2Measles, mumps and rubella.