§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any new schemes to increase parental compliance with the need for increased vaccination against measles, whooping cough and polio.
§ Mrs. CurrieLevels of vaccination have risen in recent years to 67 per cent. for whooping cough, 86 per cent. for polio and 71 per cent. for measles (1986). We do not regard these figures as high enough to give adequate protection from these preventable diseases.
We announced on 17 December plans to introduce a triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) from 1 October 1988. We intend that the introduction of MMR is preceded by a national and local publicity campaign aimed at parents and the health professions, which we hope will lead to a substantial increase in uptake levels. We are also considering how best to continue to promote the benefits of vaccination against whooping cough and polio.
Every district health authority has now appointed an immunisation co-ordinator who will have a very important part to play in securing our objective of improved uptake of the childhood immunisation.