HC Deb 26 November 1985 vol 87 cc547-8W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many children were vaccinated against whooping cough in each year since 1974 and to date; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will launch a publicity campaign on whooping cough and the case for vaccination.

Mr. Whitney

The information requested is given in the table:

Children under age 16 completing primary courses of immunisation against whooping cough: England
Year Number of children
1974 *428,300
1975 *247,900
1976 *240,600
1977 191,899
1978 250,250
1980 285,561
1981 320,496
1982 384,827
1983 405,744
1984 391,699
*Includes estimated numbers for one Area Health Authority.

The Department has provided additional funding of £483,000 to the Health Education Council to allow it to co-ordinate a national campaign. The campaign was launched in September and will run for the expected period of the whooping cough epidemic.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children have contracted whooping cough in each year since 1974 and to date.

Mr. Whitney

The latest available figures on notifications of whooping cough are shown in the table.

Corrected number of notifications of whooping cough in 0–14 age-group 1974–1985 England and Wales
Year Number
1974 15,677
1975 8,514
1976 3,750

Year Number
1977 16,857
1978 62,881
1979 29,512
1980 20,301
1981 18,728
1982 63,093
1983 18,466
1984 5,263
1985* 15,261
* 1 January to 15 November (provisional).

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the contraction rate of whooping cough.

Mr. Whitney

Notification rates for whooping cough for 1974–1984 are given in the table.

Corrected number of notifications of whooping cough per 100,000

population, 1974–1984, all ages

England and Wales

Year Rate
1974 32.8
1975 18.0
1976 7.9
1977 35.3
1978 133.4
1979 62.2
1980 42.6
1981 39.1
1982 132.7
1983 38.9
1984 11.1

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