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Immunization and vaccination
A visit to a Council centre is the favourite choice of the Wandsworth
mother who wants to have her child protected against the
diseases which once wreaked such havoc among the young. The importance
of prophylaxis is stressed when the health visitor first
calls to see the new baby, and from then on every effort is made
to ensure that the growing child is given the immunity which is
available free of charge. After the introduction of measles vaccination
in 1968 it was expected that 1969 would show a marked
increase in the number of children vaccinated, but a shortage of
vaccine led to disappointingly low figures. The Chief Medical
Officer of the Department of Health and Social Security has
urged that an effort be made in 1970 to ensure that all children
up to the age of 15 years of age are given measles vaccine if they
have not already had the disease or are not otherwise unsuitable
recipients. It should be remembered that although separate figures
are given for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, most children
receive a primary course of immunization in which the antigens
for the three diseases are combined in each single dose.