§ 28. Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children are now immunised against childhood diseases; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleAt November 1993, according to figures provided by the public health laboratory service's "Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly" programme:
- 93 per cent. of children had received diphtheria, tetanus and polio immunisations;
- 91 per cent. had received pertussis—whooping cough—and,
- 90 per cent. had received 1-lib immunisation all at age 12 months, while
- 92 per cent. had received measles, mumps and rubella at age 24 months.
We are now well within reach of our target of 95 per cent. immunisation uptake by 1995. Doctors and nurses in general practice and in the community health service are to be congratulated on their achievements.