View report page

63
figure rose to 31 percent, slightly declining to 30.4 percent in 1953,
and rising to 36 percent in 1954. In the first half of 1955 it rose to
38.4 percent. The Minister points out that elimination of diphtheria
is conditional upon the maintenance of an adequate level of immunisation
and that if parents leave their children unprotected there may be a
return of diphtheria outbreaks, particularly among the 0-4 age group
where the fatality ratio is still high in comparison with other age groups.
Although the provision of an immunisation service for diphtheria,
whooping cough, smallpox or other diseases, is the responsibility of
the London county council, the Lewisham borough council is always
willing to assist the county council in the dissemination of propaganda
and in any other way which will secure the immunisation of the
maximum number of children.
I am indebted to the Divisional Medical Officer of the London
county council for the information on which the following table is
based :—
Immunisation against diphtheria ; whooping cough ; smallpox