asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that many deaths have occurred from encephalitis, following vaccination; that death from this cause rarely occurs in cases of children under six months; whether he will issue instructions to vaccinators that in future one insertion will suffice in children, and that vaccination of young adults should be discontinued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Deaths from Encephalitis.
Deaths from encephalitis, following vaccination, are reported from other countries, but are not known in the Free State. As stated in the question, death from such cause rarely occurs in cases of children under six months. The experience of this country would not warrant the experiment of one insertion, which is to be tried elsewhere where danger of encephalitis is apprehended. There would be no legal authority to issue instructions of the kind proposed in the final part of the question. I may add, however, that it has been the settled policy of the Department not to press for vaccination of adults or children of school age.