§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into possible links between gender and MMR vaccine damage. [1088]
§ Yvette CooperStudies undertaken by the Public Health Laboratory Service on adverse events after measles, mumps and rubella vaccine routinely include analysis of gender in both exposed individuals and non-exposed controls.
For example, two studies that have identified real adverse reactions to MMR vaccine look also at gender. No significant difference between the number of males and the number of females was identified when looking at the association between MMR vaccine and cases of idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura (ITP), whereas more males than females were found to have asceptic meningitis associated with the administration of brands of MMR vaccines containing Urabe strain mumps virus. This mirrored the higher rate of asceptic meningitis in males after wild mumps infection, (MMR vaccines containing the Urabe strain mumps were discontinued in the United Kingdom in 1992).
Although many studies have identified that more males are autistic than females, no studies have identified a causal association between autism and MMR vaccination.
§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of children aged(a) 1 to 2, (b) 2 to 3 and (c) 3 to 4 years have been given MMR inoculations i) in total and (ii) in each region. [2821]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 9 July 2001]: Coverage of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in the childhood immunisation programme is measured at age 721W two and at age five. The most recent figures were published by the Public Health Laboratory Service in June and are as follows:
MMR percentage coverage figures for January to March 2001 1 dose by age 2 1 dose by age 5 2 doses by age 5 Northern and Yorkshire 88.5 94.4 79.5 Trent 90.1 95 81.4 Eastern 87.6 92.5 76.8 London 76.4 84.7 60.5 South East 85.9 92.0 74.4 South West 86.6 95.0 82.7 West Midlands 87.8 94.9 78.0 North West 86.5 93.3 75.3 England 85.8 92.4 75.5 Source:
Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
§ Mr. Boris JohnsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of children aged(a) one to two, (b) two to three and (c) three to four years have been given MMR inoculations in Oxfordshire. [6100]
§ Yvette CooperThe information available about children immunised against measles, mumps and rubella is contained in the Statistical Bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 1999–2000". A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0026.htm.