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20
Diphtheria Prevention.
It will be readily understood that the statistics do not by any
means give a clear picture of the degree of success achieved during
the year. The numbers immunised were far lower than in 1943,
particularly in the second half of the year.
5 years and
Under over, but Total
5 years under 15 years
Number of children who completed
the full immunisation
course between 1st
January and 30th June,
1944 699 (801) 548 (807) 1,247 (1,608)
Number of children who completed
the full immunisation
course between 1st
July and 31st December,
1944 334 (782) 21 (643) 355 (1,425)
In the first two quarters the under five population numbered
12,400, but in the third quarter the number fell rapidly as the
children were taken out of London, and even at the end of the
year the returned children only raised the number to 9,600, and
much the same happened to the children from five years to fifteen,
who numbered 15,800 at the mid-year and 11,900 at the end.
Vaccination.
The air raids by piloted aircraft in the first half of 1944 and the
flying bombs in the second half of the year caused additional work,
mainly because of the extra efforts required to trace the new
addresses of mothers and babies moving in and out of London.
It is to be noted that in several cases, after having found the new
addresses and having sent the information to the Vaccination
Officers for the districts concerned, the parents have returned to
London with the babies unvaccinated, although they asked for
vaccination to be done whilst they were away, but did not wait
for it to be arranged.