asked the Minister for Health whether, in view of the alarming figures disclosed by the city medical officer concerning the current high incidence of anterior poliomyelitis and the likelihood of a serious epidemic developing in the country during the epidemic season ahead, he will take steps to make available, for this year at least and as a matter of urgency, to the children of parents in all money groups the protective anterior poliomyelitis vaccine now available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anterior Poliomyelitis Vaccine.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make arrangements for vaccination against poliomyelitis to be made available without charge for all children.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.
While there has been an increase in the numbers of cases of poliomyelitis recently in Dublin, so far this year the incidence of the disease in the country as a whole is lower than in 1957.
I dealt fully with the question of vaccination in the debate on the Estimate for my Department last week. As long as the resources available are limited, I am satisfied that the free vaccination service should, in equity, be made available for the benefit of the group in greatest need and that, without due necessity, parents at the higher income levels should not be relieved of their obligations in regard to the protection of the health of their children.
In view of the fact that vaccination is provided free in the case of diphtheria and tuberculosis, why has he chosen this particular disease for exclusion and not the other ones?
I have dealt with that question fully in my reply to the Estimate debate and I would advise the Deputy to read it.
I have read the Estimate debate fully and I still do not understand why he has excluded this disease. Does he propose now to alter the free, no means test vaccination in respect of tuberculosis and diphtheria in order to conform to this new principle?
That, I think, is a separate question.
Is it not a fact that the Government are prepared to raise the money for the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle and they are not prepared to make funds available to eradicate poliomyelitis in children? Is it not a scandalous truth? The Minister ought to be ashamed of himself.
Do not always be the playboy.
If the Minister had a conscience, those children's deaths should be on his conscience.
I would call your attention to the fact, Sir, that the Deputy is accusing me of killing children. I know, of course, the Deputy never measures his words, but it is time he grew up and behaved responsibly.
The Minister will be able to measure the number of children who will be crippled and the number dead from poliomyelitis at the end of this year.
In view of the fact that there is such alarm over recent statements by medical men on this question of polio, and in view of the fact that some of those to whom he referred, those in the higher income group, which includes those in the middle income group, could not afford, as far as I am aware, to pay for the three vaccinations which will be necessary, would the Minister not reconsider his decision?
There is no relation between the statement which was made by the medical officer for the City of Dublin and the fact that I believe that, having regard to our limited resources, those who can afford to have their children vaccinated at their own cost should do so. That is the issue and there is nothing else in it. It is all very well to talk about alarming statements. We do not want to create a panic, but there are some people who are trying to create a panic in the country. This is a serious business. We would like to see every child vaccinated but our resources are limited. As I explained to the House on the Estimate, if we were to do what Deputies wanted done, it would cost an additional £500,000.
What about the expenditure on the presidential establishment, and so on?
The Deputy was one of those who voted last week against increased expenditure; now he is crying out for it.
Does the Minister not agree that very many working class families who have been deemed ineligible for medical cards will nevertheless find it impossible to have this course of injections because of the financial considerations involved? Does the Minister not agree that there will be many thousands of cases in Dublin, Cork and Limerick where people will be unable to afford vaccination?
There may be some. That is not a justification for extending the range so far that even those who are well off will be able to have their children vaccinated free.
The Minister is aware that vaccination is provided free for such diseases as Deputy Browne mentioned, diphtheria and T.B. Polio can be much more harmful in many cases than diphtheria or possibly T.B.
Of course, I am not a medical man. I am a layman, but even laymen can understand that there is a difference in the degree of infectiousness and the degree in which the infection may be spread in the case of these diseases. We have to exercise some balance and some judgment.
This is a killing disease.
Would the Minister undertake to re-examine the situation.
I have already fully examined the question.
Question No. 17. This discussion could go on forever.
This is a serious question. The Minister is responsible for children being crippled because of his personal action.
I shall allow one more question by Deputy Russell.
I think the returns for last year show that only 28 per cent. of the total population are eligible for cards. In view of that fact, would the Minister not consider allowing children up to, say, ten years of age to be inoculated free of charge? I appreciate his point and I am fully cognisant of the fact that we must have a rein on expenditure at this juncture of our affairs but I do suggest that, from the point of view of efficiency and necessity, in the long run it might not make such a difference. It is very hard to differentiate——
That is not a question.
The Minister should be ashamed of himself.
I have less reason to be ashamed of myself in public life than the Deputy has. I had fully considered all the circumstances before the decision was arrived at regarding the amount of money to be made available for this service.