§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter on the measles and rubella immunisation campaign by the chief medical officer sent to all doctors on 27 September 1994; and if he will indicate whether his chief medical officer received any negative responses to his letter. [40074]
§ Mr. SackvilleA copy of the letter is available in the Library. The letter was sent to over 90,000 health care professionals and the chief medical officer received 35 written replies to his letter, only two of which were negative about the campaign.
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§ Mr. SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries in the European Union have conducted immunisation campaigns against measles, mumps and rubella in the past 10 years. [40235]
§ Mr. SackvilleAll countries of the European Union have immunisation programmes that include MMR vaccine. Almost all of them follow two dose programmes for MMR.
§ Mr. SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings(a) he, (b) other departmental Ministers or (c) departmental officials have had for the past two years with representatives of the Justice Awareness and Basic Support group to discuss problems with immunisation campaigns conducted by his Department. [40267]
§ Mr. SackvilleI am not aware that the Justice Awareness and Basic Support group have formally requested a meeting with Ministers or officials.
§ Mr. SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the measles innoculation campaign of winter 1994–95. [40285]
§ Mr. Sackville[holding answer 31 October 1995]: The campaign was highly effective. Some 92 per cent. of the children aged five to 16 years were immunised. In much of the country, measles virus transmission has been interrupted. An epidemic has been averted. Since January 1995, there have been approximately 50 confirmed cases, of which eight were imported.