asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have died or suffered injury as a result of unnecessary smallpox vaccinations in the current year; and how many in each year since 1970.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1979, c. 795]: From 1970 to 30 November 1979, the Committee on Safety of Medicines has received five reports of deaths following smallpox vaccinations in the following years:

1970	…	…	2
1973	…	…	1
1976	…	…	1
1979	…	…	1

During the same period there have been 94 reports to the committee of adverse reactions to smallpox vaccinations as follows:

1970	…	…	9
1971	…	…	6
1972	…	…	6
1973	…	…	30
1974	…	…	9
1975	…	…	3
1976	…	…	9
1977	…	…	13
1978	…	…	8
1979	…	…	1

No information is available as to the circumstances in which the vaccinations were given. During the earlier years of this period smallpox vaccination was very generally required for travel abroad. A number of countries still require smallpox vaccination certificates.