HC Deb 06 December 1965 vol 722 cc26-7W
Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of confirmed cases of poliomyelitis in the recent Blackburn epidemic in their appropriate age groups; and how many of these suffered from the mild form of poliomyelitis.

Mr. K. Robinson

I am informed that the provisional number of confirmed cases is 53. Of these:

  • 5 were aged 0–4 years.
  • 9 were aged 5–14 years.
  • 10 were aged 15–19 years.
  • 19 were aged 20–29 years.
  • 6 were aged 30–39 years.
  • 4 were aged 40 years or over.
  • 24 were classified as non-paralytic.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of persons immunised in the recent Blackburn poliomyelitis epidemic with the live Sabine oral vaccine, distinguishing between those given one dose and those given two or more doses; and how many were injected with the inactivated Salk vaccine.

Mr. K. Robinson

After the outbreak began about 100,000 persons received a first dose of oral (Sabine) vaccine, 80,000 a second dose and 65,000 a third dose; a few persons were given inactivated (Salk) vaccine, but the precise number is not known.