HC Deb 24 October 1978 vol 955 cc907-8W
26. Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made with the scheme to pay compensation to those suffering brain damage resulting from whooping-cough vaccination; and how long he expects it will be before all claims have been considered.

Mr. Ennals

The scheme is now in operation, and about 1,700 claims for vaccine damage payments have been received. A few points of detail, such as trustee arrangements, remain to be settled, but I hope that some payments will be made before the end of the year, and that the great majority of claims can be settled during 1979. The required Bill will be brought before the House in due course.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the rise in the number of whooping-cough cases notified in the current year, what steps he is taking to increase take-up of whooping-cough vaccine.

Mr. Ennals

I am most concerned about the current epidemic of whooping-cough which although notifications are abating after a peak reached in August this year, is assuming the proportions of those epidemics which took place prior to the introduction of pertussis vaccination on a national scale in 1957. A campaign to inform parents about the recommended course of basic immunisation, including immunisation against whooping-cough, was launched in March this year. An informative leaflet called "Vaccination Protects" was made available for parents, and this explains the benefits and deals with possible risks.

Whether a child should be vaccinated against whooping-cough is a matter for the parents to decide in consultation with the family doctor or the doctor at a clinic. If, after studying "Vaccination Protects", parents are still undecided whether to have their children vaccinated, clearly the right course is for them to discuss the matter with their doctor.