§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health how many confirmed cases of poliomyelitis were notified in England and Wales in 1956; how many were paralytic; what were their ages; how many were fatal; and what were the ages of the fatal cases.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganThe provisional figures of cases notified are shown in the following table. The numbers of fatal cases are not yet available.
NUMBER OF CASES OF POLIOMYELITIS NOTIFIED IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1956
Age Total Number of cases Number paralytic cases 0–4 … 805 536 5–9 … 950 417 10–14 … 447 173 15 and over … 1,003 582 Total … 3,205 1,708
§ Mr. Bennasked the Minister of Health whether supplies of the anti-polio vaccine will be available in sufficient quantities to immunise all those children in the recommended age groups, and what percentage of this maximum potential demand can be met this year; and what plans he has for providing 100 per cent. coverage.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganGood progress is now being made with vaccination against poliomyelitis and it is my right hon. Friend's aim to increase the coverage as rapidly as possible. There will, however, be no relaxation of the safety precautions applied to the vaccine and I therefore do not think I would be justified in trying to make precise estimates of future progress.