§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the per capita cost and the total annual cost, respectively, of a programme of vaccination against polio for all children in infancy, upon entering school, and upon leaving school;
(2) what is his estimate of the percentage population immunised against polio in the following age bands: under five years, five years to 15 years, and 15 to 25 years;
(3) how many residents in the United Kingdom have contracted polio in the past year; where in each case the disease was contracted; and how many of these had received vaccination;
(4) what evidence he has of regional and area variations in vaccination against polio; and if he will take urgent action in the worst areas;
(5) what is his estimate of the percentage of the population receiving vaccination against polio: (a) in infancy, (b) on entering school, and (c) on leaving school; and what action he is taking to increase immunisation to a safe level;
20W(6) if there is any evidence of risk associated with polio vaccinations.
§ Mr. MoylePolio vaccination commences in the first year of life with booster doses on entering and leaving school. The percentage of the population immunised at 31st December 1975 —the latest date for which figures are available—is estimated as follows:
Data on the 15 to 25 years old are not available.
- Born in years 1971 to 1975 (inclusive)—60 per cent.
- Born in years 1961 to 1970 (inclusive)—80 per cent.
During 1976, of 12 persons resident in England who contracted paralytic poliomyelitis, 10 contracted it in England and 2 abroad; 5 had previously received immunisation. Where a case of paralytic polio occurs, special efforts are usually made locally to increase the uptake of polio vaccine, especially among the child population.
There is a very small risk of paralytic poliomyelitis arising as a result of vaccination but on the whole polio vaccine is an exceptionally safe vaccine.
Data on regional and area variations during 1976 is not yet available. It is not possible to distinguish the total cost of poliomyelitis vaccination from other costs.