§ 40. Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what preparations he has made in view of the possibility of an influenza epidemic this winter.
§ 56. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that there is sufficient vaccine available for inoculation against the threatened epidemic of Asian flu.
§ Mr. EnnalsIn reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Moonman) on 22nd November, I described steps being taken to increase supplies of vaccine and to give priority to those for whom protection is medically desirable. My right hon. Friend's Chief Medical Officer has now written to all family doctors on the subject, and wholesalers, as well as manufacturers, have been approached. My Department is also in touch with the pharmaceutical profession. We hope that, subject to the necessary testing and checking, substantial and increasing supplies of imported vaccine will start to become available to doctors before Christmas.—[Vol. 773, c.349–50.]
§ 70. Mr. Garrettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements have been made to make available 222W to Members of Parliament and House of Commons staff anti-flu vaccine.
§ Mr. EnnalsNone. I indicated in my answer of 22nd November the categories of persons for whom vaccination against influenza might be desirable and the arrangements that have been made to make vaccine available to them. My right hon. Friend would not feel justified in extending these arrangements to other categories.—[Vol. 773,c. 349–50.]
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to enforce the priorities which he has established for the distribution of the Mao influenza vaccine.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that suppliers will not comply with the request he has made to them.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of doses of Mao influenza vaccine which will be needed to deal with the epidemic expected to break out in late December.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo estimate is possible since the extent to which influenza vaccine is used mainly depends on the clinical judgment of individual doctors. Routine use of the vaccine is not recommended.