London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Coulsdon and Purley 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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It should certainly not deter parents from agreeing to immunisation
against diphtheria, which treatment will only be given
if the time is considered opportune by the doctor concerned.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
The following table shows the treatment given during 1950, and the proportion of children estimated to have been immunised in that year:—
| Centres and Clinics (including day nurseries). | |
|---|---|
| Number of sessions held during the year | 183 |
| Number commenced treatment | 250 |
| Number who completed treatment | 286 |
| Number of "Booster" doses given | 95 |
| Total number of attendances | 631 |
| Schools. | |
| Number of visits made | 6 |
| Number commenced treatment | 5 |
| Number completed treatment | 23 |
| Number of "Booster" doses given | 29 |
| General Practitioners. | |
| Number completed treatment | 313 |
| Number given "Boosters" | 141 |
| Proportion of children estimated to have been immunised:— | |
| (a) from 1-5 years | 48.7% |
| (b) from 5-14 years | 89.6% |
The above figures indicate a decrease in immunisation
compared with the corresponding figures in 1949, but while to
some extent this decrease was probably due to fear caused by
the press publicity on the suggested asssociation between immunisation
and the paralysis of poliomyelitis, in part it represents
the postponement of "boosting" treatment until early in 1951,
which was a reasonable precaution in the circumstances.
The percentage of the children aged I to 5 years, who
were estimated to have been immunised was the same as in
the previous year, but the proportion of school children who
had been treated probably increased by 1 per cent.
To repeat, it is incumbent upon parents to co-operate in
ensuring that diphtheria is not allowed to reappear in our midst.
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