HC Deb 17 July 1958 vol 591 cc125-6W
Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Health whether the young seaman who was found by Liverpool medical investigators not to be suffering from smallpox had been vaccinated; and what was the latest date of his vaccination.

Mr. Walker-Smith

The seaman had been vaccinated in infancy, in 1956, and most recently, on 5th June, 1958.

Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Health whether all the passengers and crew of the s.s. "Parthia" were vaccinated during the recent smallpox scare in that ship; and to what extent the vaccinations were performed regardless of the last date on which these people had been formerly vaccinated.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Vaccination was offered to the passengers and members of the crew who could not produce evidence of a recent vaccination: as a result 74 of the 241 passengers and 26 of the 185 members of the crew were vaccinated.

Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Health if he will suggest to all medical persons dealing with smallpox that, in view of the harm done in a large number of cases, no vaccinations shall be carried out before the existence of smallpox is confirmed, and that no families be asked to be vaccinated until they have been in actual contact with smallpox.

Mr. Walker-Smith

I cannot accept the implication in the Question that vaccination does harm in a large number of cases. It is generally regarded as good public health practice to institute control measures, including the vaccination of contacts, as soon as smallpox is suspected.