HC Deb 02 March 1911 vol 22 cc706-7W
Dr. HILLIER

asked the President of the Local Government Board what was the proportion during last year, relatively to the children born, of those children who were exempted from vaccination under exemption certificates?

Mr. BURNS

I am not at present able to supply figures for the whole year. During the first half of the year, however, 456,533 births were registered and 110,851 exemption certificates were received.

Mr. SUTTON

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of a child named Ada May Fisher, of Waver-tree, Liverpool, who died on 2nd December, 1910, from broncho-pneumonia supervening on generalised vaccinia after having been vaccinated with lymph supplied by the Local Government Board; whether such lymph was similar to that which is usually issued by the Department; whether he is aware that at the inquest which was held upon the body of the deceased the medical witness said generalised vaccinia was extremely rare; and whether, seeing that in this House, on 25th November, 1909, and 29th July, 1910, in replies to questions relating to two other deaths from generalised vaccinia he also described the disease as extremely rare, he will now state what steps he proposes to take?

Mr. BURNS

My attention has been drawn to this case, and one of my medical inspectors investigated the circumstances in January last. The lymph which was supplied belonged to a series of which 1,629 tubes were despatched, and no complaints have been received in regard to other cases for which the tubes were used. It may also be pointed out that the same public vaccinator vaccinated five other infants with the same lymph without any abnormal effects. I am aware that it was stated at the inquest that generalised vaccinia was extremely rare. The correctness of this view is supported by the fact that, although during the two years 1909 and 1910, over a million vaccinations were performed, only two cases are known to have occurred. I do not think it necessary to take any further steps in the matter.