§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report details of all preparatory arrangements undertaken by her Department for dealing with the Australian variety of flu (A virus); what representations were made to her between August and December 1975 by the World Health Organisation Influenza Centre and other related bodies; and what advice she sought from them and when.
§ Dr. OwenAn Advisory Group on Influenza met on 30th September to review influenza vaccination in the light of recent experience in the United Kingdom and other parts of the World, including Australia and the Far East where a new strain of influenza A Virus has appeared. In recommendations, which were endorsed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, were incorporated in a letter from the Chief Medical Officer to doctors in November. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.
World Health Organisation reports to member States on the international surveillance of communicable disease, including 106W influenza, are published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record. This information was available to the Advisory Group.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what numbers and percentage of the total population were vaccinated against flu between September 1975 and the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Dr. OwenInfluenza vaccine is not recommended for general use. Certain groups at special risk may benefit from vaccination, but this is a matter for individual assessment by doctors. We have no record of the number of vaccinations.