HC Deb 22 November 1976 vol 919 cc999-1000W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of vaccine damage resulting from immunisation against rubella have been reported for each year since the introduction of this vaccine.

Mr. Moyle

Vaccination against rubella was introduced on a national scale in September 1970 for all girls between their 11th and 14th birthdays, and was subsequently extended to women of childbearing age who were shown by a blood test to be susceptible to rubella.

The total number of adverse reactions to this vaccine reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines is as follows:

1970 2
1971 15
1972 15
1973 4
1974 2
1975 13
1976 (to date) 10
61

I am told that only four of these reactions are serious and that they may not necessarily be due to the vaccine.

Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of infants born with damage resulting from rubella infection during pregnancy for each year back to 1945 before and since the introduction of immunisation against the disease.

Mr. Moyle

I shall let the hon. Member have the information as soon as possible.

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