HC Deb 26 January 1970 vol 794 cc252-3W
Mr. Maddan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that influenza vaccine might be appropriately offered to children in residential establishments but not to old people in similar establishments.

Mr. Crossman

The Joint Committee did not make such a recommendation. It suggested that vaccination might be offered with advantage to certain groups but recognised that the decision whether or not to vaccinate a particular individual or group is for the medical practitioner concerned. Many old people in residential establishments would be among the sufferers from certain chronic diseases for whose personal protection the committee had previously suggested that vaccination might be indicated.