§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the rubella vaccination programme with particular reference to the vaccination of schoolgirls between the age of 10 and 14 years. [10742]
Mr. HormanWhen the measles, mumps and rubella—MMR—vaccine was introduced into the routine pre-school childhood immunisation schedule in 1988, it was accepted that a continuingly high uptake of the vaccine would mean that it would be possible, in due course, to stop routinely immunising schoolgirls against rubella. It was also acknowledged when planning the measles/rubella immunisation campaign conducted in schools in November 1994, that a successful campaign would make it possible to bring forward the end of the schoolgirl rubella programme. Vaccine uptake in the measles/rubella campaign was very high at around 92 per cent. and uptake of MMR vaccine in infants is also consistently high at 92 per cent. In the light of the success of both the ongoing MMR programme and the measles/rubella campaign, the independent joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation concluded that immunisation levels against rubella among children were sufficiently high and advised that the routine immunisation of girls between 10 and 14 was no longer appropriate.
Ministers accepted the committee's recommendation and health authorities and all doctors were told in October 1995 that the routine immunisation of schoolgirls against rubella should be ended.
The policy of providing protection against rubella remains unchanged. In announcing the decision to end the routine immunisation programme, the Departments stressed that health authorities should continue with their other existing rubella screening and immunisation programmes. Health authorities should both continue to ensure that MMR vaccine is offered to any children of school leaving age who have not been immunised and also maintain their procedures to ensure that, where and when appropriate, women of childbearing age arc both screened for rubella antibodies and offered immunisation. This will ensure that both girls and boys receive rubella vaccine if missed before.
Copies of the appropriate executive letter and Chief Medical Officer's update are available in the Library.