§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reported reactions there have been to vaccines in the last year for which figures are available; which vaccines were reported; what were the reactions; and whether any of these resulted in permanent disabilities.
§ Mr. DorrellThere were 748 reports of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines in 1990; some of these reports may have featured more than one vaccine and/or more than one reaction. The report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily imply a causal relationship.
The following vaccines were involved:—
- Anthrax
- BCG
- Diphtheria
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza
- Measles
- Measles/mumps/rubella
- Polio
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Whooping cough
- Yellow fever
The reactions reported fell into the following categories:—
- Application site disorders
- Arrythmias
- Auditory and vestibular
- Autonomic nervous system
- Bleeding and clotting disorders
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Central nervous system
- Collagen disorders Endocrine disorders
- Fetal disorders
- Gastro-intestinal disorders
- General disorders
- Hepatic disorders
- Intra-cardiac disorders
- Male reproductive disorders
- Metabolic and Nutritional
- Muscular Skeletal disorders
- Other special senses
- Peripheral vascular disorders
- Psychiatric disorders
- Resistance mechanism
- Respiratory disorders
- Skin and appendages
- Urinary disorders
- Visual disorders
- White blood cell disorders
A number of the reports indicated that, at the time of reporting, the patient had not yet recovered. A number of these patients have subsequently recovered.