§ 98. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the information made available to him by the Medical Research Council on the effectiveness and safety of vaccination against poliomyelitis; and if he will give his plans for the vaccination of young persons in Great Britain up to July, 1956, and from October, 1956.
§ Mr. TurtonI am advised that the British vaccine against poliomyelitis which is now being manufactured should confer a degree of protection against paralytic poliomyelitis and that, with the stringent safety tests to be passed, it will be free from danger in use.
Substantial quantities of the vaccine will not be available until the end of the year, but meanwhile proposals have been made to local health authorities for the use of the limited quantity which it is hoped will be available in May and June. Vaccination will be offered as part of the National Health Service to children born between 1947 and 1954. A selection from those who accept the offer will be made on a central plan to determine those who can actually be vaccinated in view of the amount of vaccine then available. Priority for vaccination will be given later in the year to the children not selected, when I hope it will also be possible to extend the age groups.