§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many yellow card reports of suspected adverse reactions linked to the autumn measles rubella vaccination campaign have been received by the Committee on the Safety of Medicines and Medicines Control Agency since 9 December 1994.
(2) if she will list the complications notified by the yellow card reports linked to the autumn measles rubella vaccination campaign received since 9 December 1994 in respect of (a) the number of individuals affected, (b) the number of signs and symptoms, (c) the number of more serious reactions, (d) the number of allergic reactions, (e) the number of reported convulsions and (f) the number with late neurological damage.
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§ Mr. SackvilleSince 9 December 1994 the Medicines Control Agency has received a further 50 yellow card reports of suspected adverse reactions to measles rubella vaccine. A report for a suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that the vaccine caused the reaction. Signs and symptoms described in these reports have been classified as reactions. One hundred and fifty affected children were reported as having 281 reactions, of which 87–affecting 67 children–were considered to be serious. There were 15 allergic reactions, eight convulsions and seven late-onset neurological conditions, five of whom have recovered and two are recovering. Further information is being sought for some of the reactions to investigate their relationship with immunisation. It is estimated that eight million children have been immunised. Reporting of serious adverse reactions to date is therefore low.