32.
asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a successful anti-poliomyelitis vaccine has been developed in South Africa; and if such a vaccine will soon be available in this country.
No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is aware of attempts to produce a satisfactory vaccine in South Africa and elsewhere, and investigations with the same purpose are in progress in this country. These experimental approaches to a difficult problem are expected to be protracted.
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. While we are all aware that reports in the Press are usually years ahead of the facts, can my hon. Friend give an assurance that everything that is humanly possible is being done in this country?
I assure my hon. Friend that the most intensive research into this disease is being conducted but, as my hon. Friend has said, it is highly dangerous to have advance publicity on something which is not fully tried and which our medical advisers do not consider should be generally used.
Does the hon. Lady agree that it would be most unfortunate if the general public gained the impression that there was a vaccine available in other countries that was not available here? Is it not correct that while most encouraging progress has been made in research, we have not yet reached the stage at which we can claim to have a successful vaccine?
I quite agree with the hon. Member.