§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what communications he has had with the suppliers of the Mao influenza vaccine since 1st October 1968;
(2) if he will make available in the OFFICIAL REPORT his correspondence with the suppliers of the Mao influenza vaccine in which he made requests to them about distribution.
(3) if he will make a further statement on the manufacture and priorities in the distribution of the Mao flu vaccine.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps 262W to assume responsibility for the distribution of the Asian influenza vaccine; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will seek powers to prevent limited liability companies purchasing Asian influenza vaccine for their staffs until doctors have adequate supplies to treat elderly patients and poliomyelitis victims;
(3) what was the first date when his Department was informed of a possible Asian influenza epidemic; what action was then taken to ensure adequate supplies of vaccine; and if he will make a statement;
(4) in view of the increasing difficulty in obtaining supplies of Asian influenza vaccine, if he will now reconsider his decision not to extend the categories for distribution and give priority to heavily built-up industrial areas such as Manchester and the cotton textile districts of Lancashire;
(5) if he will give the estimated quantities of Asian influenza vaccine distributed by counties or other convenient regional districts, together with the size of population in each district, indicating the numbers over the age of 65 years;
(6) if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with manufacturers about increasing the availability of Asian influenza vaccine; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsA new variant of influenza virus A2 (originally called Asian in 1957) was first isolated in Hong Kong in July, 1968. If an outbreak occurs this winter it is likely, but not certain, that the Hong Kong variant will be the cause. So far there has been no evidence of any general outbreak in this country of any type of influenza. However, information from other countries increases fear of an outbreak in Britain this winter.
The Government have taken all appropriate steps to prepare for this eventuality. It is the Government's view, based on the specialist advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation of the Central and Scottish Health Services Councils, that the routine use of vaccines cannot be expected to make a significant contribution to the control of outbreaks of influenza, but may be desirable for certain categories of people. These include persons suffering from certain chronic diseases such 263W as chronic heart disease, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic renal disease and diabetes, whose conditions may be aggravated by an attack of influenza. Other categories are children in residential establishments and those, such as doctors and nurses, at special risk because of contact with patients.
It has been the Government's policy, in co-operation with the pharmaceutical industry, to seek to ensure the availability of suitable vaccine against this new strain of virus and its distribution to those who may require it in accordance with the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
As soon as the virus was isolated in July, the manufacturers began the production of a vaccine with all possible speed. Recent difficulties in meeting the stringent testing requirements have temporarily reduced production so that some 150,000 of the 900,000 doses expected to be distributed before the end of the year will not now be available until the New Year. Thereafter, however, it is hoped that substantial additional supplies, imported in bulk and now being tested, will become available to meet priority requirements.
My Department has kept in touch with the manufacturers. After discussion with their representatives, the Department wrote on 27th November to all manufacturers and wholesalers seeking their co-operation—which has been given—in a scheme designed to ensure priority in supply to the groups suggested by the Joint Committee; the Department has also been in touch with the pharmaceutical profession. I do not think that publication of such correspondence as there has been would add anything to the information given above. Co-operation of the manufacturers has been greatly appreciated.
Medical Officers of Health have been kept informed by my Department's Chief Medical Officer who has also written to all family doctors. I have no reason to depart from the advice of the Joint Committee or to intervene in the existing arrangements for supply and distribution.
Information about the geographical distribution of vaccine is not available.