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20 Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1934.
the small number of adults who were tested 51 per cent, gave a
positive result.
Immunisation :—In order to produce immunity two injections
of T.A.F. have to be given at weekly intervals. Immunity
does not develop until several months have elapsed after the last
injection, and in order to determine whether this has occurred
it is essential for a further test to be performed. This is generally
known as the Re-Schick Test. No person can be said to have been
immunised successfully until the re-test gives a negative result.
Unfortunately the exact period required to produce immunity
varies considerably and it is not possible to give an assurance
that it will take a certain time. After the last of the immunising
injections has been given, parents are advised to bring their children
for the re-test in about four to six months and many of them come
about that time. A considerable proportion, however, fail to
attend for the re-test and some fail to complete the course of
injections.
The number of persons attending the Clinics who required
immunisation was 4,722. This number is made up of 3,163
who were found to be Schick positive after the initial test and
the 1,559 young children who were assumed to be susceptible
without a test, as they were under five years of age. The