HC Deb 27 April 1995 vol 258 c625W
Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been made and what records are available from the Committee on Safety of Medicines concerning adverse reactions to whooping cough vaccine. [21322]

Mr. Bowis

The Committee on Safety of Medicines keeps records of suspected reactions to whooping cough vaccine. Receipt of a report does not indicate that the vaccine caused the reaction, merely that the reporter suspected that this may have been the case. Whooping cough vaccine is usually given in a combined preparation with diphtheria and tetanus vaccine and at the same time as vaccines for haemophilus influenzae type B and poliomyelitis. This makes it difficult to identify the cause of an adverse reaction.