HC Deb 30 November 1943 vol 395 cc228-9W
Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Health the policy of his Department in regard to primary vaccination of adolescents and young adults and the possibility of encephalitis resulting?

Mr. Willink

The policy of my Department in regard to primary vaccination of adolescents and young adults remains as communicated to sanitary authorities in 1929 and referred to in the Chief Medical Officer's annual report of 1933, to the effect that it is not generally expedient to press for the primary vaccination of children of school age and adolescents in this country unless they have been in personal contact with a case of smallpox or directly exposed to smallpox infection. I would, however, call attention to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 2nd November to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bradford (Mr. Leach) in regard to persons going abroad.