§ Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to take further steps to improve vaccination take-up in response to the recent Office of Health Economics report on childhood vaccination.
§ Mr. John PattenI am today announcing an initiative to increase the number of children immunised against measles. Immunisation against childhood disease is a key element in the Government's strategy on preventive medicine, and we shall be considering this report as part of our continuing review of the immunisation programme.
In 1983 over 100,000 children were reported having measles. Many of these children will have had troublesome or serious complications. Sixteen died and many suffered permanent damage. I want to reduce this toll by increasing the number of children immunised.
100WSome countries have virtually eliminated measles by immunisation, and this must be our objective in this country. Before this becomes a realistic possibility a much higher level of immunisation must be achieved. So far, the highest average national uptake in England in children reaching their second birthday has been only 59 per cent. We must improve on this.
The Department recommends that in the absence of contra-indications all children should be immunised against measles after their first birthday and that immunisation should be available for all children up to and including the age of 15 who are not already immune. I am now writing to all health authorities asking them to intensify their efforts to immunise all susceptible children and to set progressive targets to reach a measles immunisation uptake level in children in the second year of life 90 per cent. by 1990. When this is achieved it should prove possible to launch a final effort to eliminate measles from this country.
I am also asking health authorities and those concerned with immunisation to make a special effort to improve the uptake of measles immunisation among all pre-school children and children entering nursery and primary schools, starting at the beginning of the autumn term each year. This could cover 2–3 million children. In addition, the Pre-school Playgroups Association and the National Childminding Association will be distributing the Health Education Council's publicity material on measles immunisation to parents of pre-school children.
By these means I hope that parents will be encouraged to have their children immunised against this widespread and potentially serious disease. If we can substantially raise the number of children who are immunised, I believe we can make a welcome start on eliminating measles in this country.
§ Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what proportion of schoolchildren in each regional health authority area had received measles vaccine on the latest available date;
(2) what proportion of children in each regional health authority area had received pertussis vaccine latest available date.
§ Mr. John PattenThis information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to my hon. Friend.