London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Coulsdon and Purley 1955

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNISATION.

Table: The following numbers were treated during 1955 and it is noted that 62 fewer children were given primary courses and 5 fewer received reinforcing doses than in 1954.

The following numbers were treated during 1955 and it is noted that 62 fewer children were given primary courses and 5 fewer received reinforcing doses than in 1954.

Welfare Centres.
Number who completed Primary treatment309
Number of "Booster" doses given94
General Practitioners
Number who completed Primary treatment343
Number of "Booster" doses given170

Text

Copy text to clipboard

At present it is recommended that 3 doses of whooping cough
vaccine should be given (usually combined with a diphtheria
immunisation agent) at monthly intervals, commencing at the
latest in the sixth month, and followed by a "booster" dose at 2
years, but with experience this time table may be varied. As this
treatment is not usually given much after 2 years of age, there is a
tendency for fewer children to be immunised against whooping
cough than against diphtheria, and this year the difference is
148 or about 24%.
IMMUNISATION AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS.
During the second half of the year parents of children who
were 13 years of age and who were attending any County Council
School or a grant aided school were asked if they would agree
to their children being tested and, if necessary, given B.C.G.
immunisation against tuberculosis. As a result, in this Division
63% of them accepted and 80% of these were inoculated, i.e.
49% of all the eligible children. The scheme is being extended
in 1956 to any private school which is prepared to co-operate.
It is of interest to note that in the last 2 years about 13% of
these children who were Mantoux tested proved positive, indicating
that they had already been in contact with tuberculosis.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Almost all the specimens requiring bacteriological examination
in the interests of the public health are sent to the
Public Health Laboratory, West Hill House, West Hill Road,
Epsom, and during 1955 reports were received on the following
specimens :—
Milk, ice cream, and water samples 434
Food utensils 150
Nose or throat swabs 27
Food 19
Faeces 414
Sputum 4
Rectal swabs 1
25