§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 4th March, whether the national study of the frequency of the incidence of vaccine damage is a retrospective one; when and by whom it was set up; and when a report is expected.
§ Mr. MoyleThis study, which is supported by my Department, is being organised from the Middlesex Hospital Medical School and it started early in 1976. It is a prospective one in which information is collected in a standard manner from the onset of illness in children who have been identified by uniform criteria. The time which it will take will depend on the rate at which the events being studied occur. At present, it is planned to continue for a further two years.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the joint committee intends to meet to reassess its advice that routine whooping-cough vaccination should continue in the light of Professor Stewart's evidence to the joint committee.
§ Mr. MoyleThe joint committee has arranged to meet on 29th March. Professor Stewart's evidence will be among that considered.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply 421W of 8th March, whether the statement of the Chief Medical Officer of Health to doctors, that the joint committee is of the opinion that whooping-cough vaccination should continue to be recommended as a routine procedure, is still the current unanimous policy of the joint committee.
§ Mr. MoyleAs my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend on 14th March—[Vol. 928, c.95]—he has 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 him. We would prefer to await the report of the committee before going further into matters which would come within the ambit of its review.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the proportions of those babies vaccinated against whooping cough who commence the schedule of vaccination at (a) three months, (b) four months, (c) five months, (d) six months and (e) later than six months, giving the figures for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MoyleThe information is not centrally available. The data collected on vaccination and immunisation relate only to the total numbers of children born in particular years who complete primary courses or who receive reinforcing doses in any one year.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the criteria by which he decides whether information available to his Department or to his Advisory Committee should freely available to those interested; and on what grounds he decides to keep such information secret.
§ Mr. Ennals, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th March 1977; Vol. 927, c. 475], gave the following information:
Much information is made available in medical and scientific journals. It is normally for the researchers concerned to decide whether and how they wish to publish their findings. Papers submitted to advisory committees are sent in confidence. Advice is published in letters from the Chief Medical Officer and in departmental circulars.
422W
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 25th February, if he will request the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to make available the evidence on which it bases its advice on whooping cough vaccination.
§ Mr. Ennals, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th March 1977; Vol. 927, c. 475], gave the following information:
As I informed my hon. Friend in my reply on 14th March—[Vol. 928, c. 95]—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. I would prefer to await the report of the Committee before going further into matters which would come within the ambit of its review.