HC Deb 03 November 1994 vol 248 cc1273-4W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the medical reason for the abortion from which foetal tissue was obtained from which vaccine was originally derived for vaccinating children against measles and rubella; when that abortion took place; what was the age of the foetus when aborted; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

The cell line in which the vaccine is grown was derived from cells from a single foetus. The termination was carried out in 1966 in a national health service hospital. The foetus was aged 14 weeks. The termination was carried out for psychiatric reasons. Those details were published in"Nature" in 1970, volume 227, pages 168–170. The rubella virus used in the vaccine was isolated from a foetus terminated in the 1960s in the United States 17 days after the mother contracted confirmed rubella. Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional action she is taking to persuade the maximum numbers of parents in the United Kingdom to consent to their children being vaccinated against measles and rubella; what action is being taken to allay religious reservations about the origins of the vaccine used in the current vaccination programme; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

The Health Education Authority has produced an information leaflet with a consent form for parents. Television advertisements and other forms of media have also been used to provide advice and information about the immunisation campaign. This has included advertisements in the ethnic press and on ethnic radio programmes. The Department has been working with leaders of all the faith communities to make available information about the production of rubella vaccine and the public health benefits of immunisation. The chief medical officer met representatives of the various faith communities to discuss the campaign on 1 November; a copy of the press statement released following that meeting has been placed in the Library. We hope that parents of all faiths will be able to participate fully.