§ Mr. Leachasked the Minister of Health whether, in his estimates of the percentage of children inoculated against diphtheria, a considerable number are included who are now over the age of 15 years; and to what extent this fact vitiates the percentages of children inoculated between the ages of 5 and 15.
§ Mr. WillinkI would refer my hon. Friend to the explanation of the estimates mentioned which was given in the Summary Report of the Ministry of Health for the year ended 31st March, 1943. Account is taken of the factor to which he alludes.
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§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria were recorded in immunised children during the six months ended 31st December, 1943; and whether any of the immunised cases were fatal.
§ Mr. WillinkFigures supplied by local authorities in England and Wales for the six months ended 31st December, 1943, which are not quite complete, show that among the 10,238 notifications of diphtheria in children during that period, 2,676 were cases in which a course of immunisation had been completed; and that out of 336 deaths of children from diphtheria in the same period a course of immunisation had been completed in 24 cases.