§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation has made in its investigation of the Japanese whooping cough vaccine; what form the investigation is taking; what preliminary or final conclusions have been reached; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThe committee has studied the only published information on this vaccine available in this country. This was contained inThe Lancet on 21 January 1984, a copy of which is in the Library. A small quantity of the vaccine has been made available to the World Health Organisation for limited trials, and the committee has deferred further consideration until the results of these trials are known.