HC Deb 05 December 1977 vol 940 cc515-6W
42. Sir G. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to reply to the letter addressed to his Chief Medical Officer, dated 29th November, from Dr. J. F. Bird of the Health Centre, High Street, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, concerning the lack of Trivalent vaccine incorporating the 400 IU New Jersey strain.

Mr. Moyle

The Chief Medical Officer has not yet received Dr. Bird's letter, but I assume that it refers to influenza vaccine. The Joint Committee on Vaccina tion and Immunisation has advised that it would be unnecessary to include swine influenza virus—New Jersey strain—in vaccines for the coming winter. Consequently, vaccines prepared for this winter will contain A /Victoria/3/75 and B/Hong Kong/8/73 strains.

I will send my right hon. Friend a copy of the reply which is sent to Dr. Bird in due course.