§ Mr. Leachasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that people in the Sherborne and other areas of Dorset have suffered from vaccination urged on the public by medical officials in consequence of the alleged case of smallpox, the diagnosis of which has not been confirmed; and whether he will issue to all medical officers of health a copy of his statement of policy in regard to vaccination under which he has recommended that schoolchildren and young adults should not be primarily vaccinated unless they have been in personal contact with virulent smallpox, in order to stop panic vaccinations which do harm.
§ Mr. WillinkI am aware that persons who are vaccinated do not in all cases escape ill effects: but I cannot adopt the suggestion in the second part of the Question. The statement to which my hon. Friend refers, contained in a circular issued to local authorities in 1929, qualified the recommendation alluded to by the words "so long as smallpox prevalent in this country retains its present mild character," which does not apply to the most recent occurrences of the disease.