HC Deb 31 January 1978 vol 943 cc108-9W
Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the approximate number of children who have been registered for injections against poliomyelitis since January 1977;

(2) what is the approximate number of children who registered for injections against poliomyelitis during 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively;

(3) what action is being taken to encourage the registration for poliomyelitis vaccination of children who have not registered for treatment.

Mr. Moyle

Information on the number of children who have registered for injections against poliomyelitis is not available However, the numbers of children under 16 years of age in England who completed primary courses of vaccination against poliomyelitis during 1974, 1975 and 1976 were resepctively 529,779; 480,646; and 494,711. The corresponding figure for 1977 is not yet available.

Parents of all children under five years of age are advised by the health visitor to have their children considered for immunisation. The Health Education Council has also produced a leaflet for parents, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.