§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation her departmental advisers have made of the research by Dr. Michel Odent suggesting a link between whooping cough vaccine and childhood asthma and ear infections. [22895]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department of Health is aware of Dr. Odent's suggestion that there is an association between the rise in acceptance of whooping cough vaccine, and asthma and other conditions. However, Dr. Odent has failed to consider that until the mid-1970s acceptance of whooping cough vaccine was very high and did not appear then to be linked with asthma. The Public Health Laboratory Service is in close contact with other international agencies investigating this suggestion.