§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health (1) whether any, and, if so, how many, deaths from meningitis following vaccination have occurred in England and Wales during the present year; where and at what age such cases occurred; whether inquests were held in such cases; and, if so, what were the verdicts at the inquests;
(2) whether deaths from meningitis following vaccination of infants which occurred at Alverstoke, Carshalton and Barham have been brought to his notice; and whether he has taken any steps to investigate these cases?
Sir H. YOUNGThree such deaths have been reported, one each at Carshalton, Alverstoke and Barham. The ages were 2 months, 11 weeks and 4½ months. The verdicts were respectively "Meningitis due to an organism which may have entered the system at the site of vaccination performed on 1st September, 1933," "Meningitis," and "Natural causes, namely, meningitis." Inquiries were made in each case, and I am advised that there is no ground for disagreement with the verdicts.