§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the number of adverse reactions to vaccines reported to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines for the last three five-year periods, or for other convenient periods for which figures are available; if he will give the figures for the reactions involving the nervous system; and if he will give the number of deaths;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report details of adverse reactions following
1964–70 1971–75 1976 Vaccine (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) Influenza … … … 62 (3) 91 (2) 61 (1) Oral Polio … … … 38 (1) 62 (2) 29 (0) Polio Inactivated … … … 15 (1) 19 (1) 1 (0) Measles … … … 327 (5) 224 (4) 49 (0) Rubella … … … 2 (0) 49 (0) 13 (0) Pertussis* … … … 319 (8) 178 (6) 67 (0) Tab … … … 12 (1) 11 (2) 6 (0) BCG … … … 4 (0) 12 (0) 17 (0) Smallpox … … … 34 (3) 49 (1) 9 (1) Tetanus … … … 60 (0) 49 (3) 16 (1) Grass Pollen … … … 28 (0) 17 (1) 3 (0) (a)=Reports of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines. (b)=Reports of deaths suspected to be due to vaccination. N.B. Figures in parentheses (column (b)) are included in the principal figure (column (a)). * Most of these patients also received diptheria and tetanus (in a "Triple" vaccine) and a large proportion would also receive polio vaccine simultaneously. Between 1964 and 1974 there were 448 reports of suspected adverse reactions following administration of a vaccine containing the whooping cough component.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the children who have died from whooping cough in each of the last 10 years have been under the age of one year and there
94Wadministration of a vaccine containing the whooping-cough component for the 11 years 1964 to 1974, which were reported to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines.
§ Mr. Ennals, pursuant to his replies [Official Report, 17th February 1977; Vol. 926, c. 307–10; and 25th February, Vol. 926, c. 727–8], gave the following information:
The table below gives the total number of reports of suspected adverse reactions to the more frequently used vaccines, and of deaths, in (i) 1964–70; (ii) 1971–75; and (iii) 1976. Causal relationship between the events reported and the use of the vaccine has not necessarily been established. In many cases several vaccines were given simultaneously and it is not clear to which vaccine, if any, the suspected reaction should be attributed. Although reactions are identified by type, their severity is not indicated. The reports therefore give no precise indication of the incidence of adverse reactions to these vaccines. In view of the wide range of possible effects on the nervous system it is impossible to provide in summary form useful figures of suspected reactions of this kind.
fore unable to benefit from any possible vaccine.
§ Mr. Ennals, pursuant to his repy [Official Report, 28th February 1977; Vol. 927, c. 64], gave the following reply:
95WThe numbers of children under 1 year of age who have died from whooping cough in England and Wales during each of the last 10 years are as follows:
1967 24 1968 15 1969 4 1970 13 1971 22 1972 2 1973 2 1974 12 1975 11 1976* 1 *Provisional It is impossible to say how many of these children might have benefited from vaccination, but if basic immunisation was commenced at three months the course could have been completed by nine months of age.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services if he will publish the evidence he has showing that the gains from whooping-cough vaccine outweigh the risks.
§ Mr. Ennals, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th February 1977; Vol. 927, c. 64], gave the following information:
As I informed the hon. Member for Wirral (Mr. Hunt) in reply to a supplementary question on 8th March—[Vol. 927, c. 1219–21]—I have now asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to prepare for publication a review of the evidence about whooping-cough vaccine and the basis of its advice to me.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis he advocates the continued use of the whooping-cough vaccine in view of the lack of available estimates.
§ Mr. Ennals, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th February 1977; Vol. 927, c. 64], gave the following information:
On the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to continue his policy of not recommending the complete immunisation of children under the age of one year; and what are the reasons for this policy.
§ Mr, Ennals, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th February 1977; 96W Vol. 927, c. 64], gave the following information:
My Department receives advice from time to time on the age at which immunisation should begin from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. This advice and the reasons given by the committee for its advice and for any changes are passed to doctors. I intend to continue this practice.