§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has had regarding the low uptake of poliomyelitis, pertussis, measles, rubella and tetanus immunisation; and what replies have been given.
§ Mr. WhitneyFive letters have been received in the last year, including one from the right hon. Member. The replies have stressed the importance we attach to improving uptake of immunisation against these diseases.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the most recent figures for the uptake of poliomyelitis, pertussis, measles, rubella and tetanus immunisation by regions; and what steps he plans to take to bring the regions with the lowest uptake rates up to the level of those with the higher rates.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe available information on uptake of immunisation is shown in the table. We will be considering with regional health authorities how low uptake might be tackled
are applicable to this country, but we nevertheless keep the need for such studies of our own programmes under review.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will redesign the preventive medicine strategy of his Department with a view to improving the uptake of immunisation.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe see no need for this. Immunisation remains a key element in our prevention strategy. We 491W monitor uptake of health authority immunisations through performance indicators and the review system, and we are seeking further to strengthen this.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to require medical officers to submit an annual report on the steps being taken to improve the uptake of vaccine in their districts.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have asked district health authorities to designate an officer to be accountable for immunisation performance in the district. We would expect authorities to look to that officer for reports on the steps being taken to improve uptake of immunisation.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment his Department has made of the state of public awareness of the contra-indications to immunisation, if he will take steps to assist consultants, general practitioners and community physicians and nurses to improve this level of awareness by means of an education programme directed at the general public; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Department attaches importance to public awareness of the contra-indications to immunisation and funds Health Education Council literature which explains the risks attaching to childhood immunisations. Doctors and community nurses have also been advised by the Department about the contra-indications to these immunisations and urged to discuss these matters with parents to help them make informed decisions.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to empower nurses to immunise at home children who have been missed in the normal immunisation arrangements; and if he will also arrange for these nurses to be indemnified appropriately, if necessary.
§ Mr. WhitneyThese are matters for health authorities to decide as a matter of local policy, in discussion with the professionals concerned.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received in support of a meeting of experts in the field of immunisation to consider means of improving the immunisation uptake; and what consideration he has given to the suggestion that the disabilities study unit should convene such a meeting in association with his Department.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have been unable to trace any such suggestion but will consider it if it is made.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much research is being carried out into improving vaccines in the United Kingdom; and how much research is being carried out into improving the uptake of immunisation in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe understand that the Medical Research Council which receives grant-in-aid from the science vote of the Department of Education and Science is supporting research aimed at the development and improvement of vaccines for hepatitis, herpes virus, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rubella, measles, varicella and whooping cough.
The Department is funding the following research projects which relate to improving the uptake of immunisation: 492W
- 1. Dr. C. L. Miller, Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London. PHLS Rubella monitoring and research programme.
- 2. Professor R. M. Anderson, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. Quantitative investigations into the design of vaccination programmes for the control of childhood viral and bacterial diseases.
- 3. Professor E. G. Knox, Health Services Research Centre, Birmingham University. Simulation systems of rubella vaccination and pertussis vaccination programmes.
- 4. Professor W. W. Holland, Dr. A. Lakhani, Social Medicine and Health Services Research Unit, United Medical Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals. An investigation of the low uptake of measles immunisation in the Maidstone Health Authority.
- 5. Professor E. Alberman, London Hospital Medical College Effectiveness, efficiency, acceptability and cost in the preventive child health services.